Strychnine - Symptoms

Symptoms

Strychnine poisoning can be fatal to humans and animals and can occur by inhalation, swallowing or absorption through eyes or mouth, as explained above. It produces some of the most dramatic and painful symptoms of any known toxic reaction. For this reason, strychnine poisoning is often used in literature and film. It is also used as a rodenticide, but is not specific for unwanted pests and may kill other small animals. As the pericarp is quite hard and indigestible, poisoning symptoms may not appear if the seeds are ingested whole; therefore, S. nux-vomica seeds are generally effective only when they are crushed or chewed before swallowing. The following symptoms are indicative of a lethal dose:

1. Severe nausea, including vomiting
2. Convulsions of all muscle groups, which become longer and more closely spaced with time
3. Spasms of the facial muscles, causing cyanosis of the face, dilated pupils, prominent eye balls, and frothing at the mouth
4. The body may be seen arch-shapes in following postures:
   1. Opisthotonus: Hyperextension. The person may be resting on heels and occiput.
   2. Emprosthotonos: The spasm of abdominal muscles may bend the body forward.
   3. Pleurothotonus: The body may be flexed to one side.
5. Loss of consciousness and a clear mind
6. Immense reflex sensitivity (dramatic exaggeration of normal reflexes)
7. Death due to asphyxiation, caused by muscle spasms