September Newsletter
REAL POISON CENTER CASES & POISONS IN YOUR GARDEN
Case #1
A mother called the Poison Helpline because her 19 month old son put a boric acid suppository in his mouth. The mother was able to retrieve some of the tablet from the child's mouth. At the time of the call, the child did not have any symptoms. The poison specialist had the mother wipe her child's mouth with a wet rag and offer him a drink and snack. The mother was also told that the child might develop nausea & vomiting which may be blue/green in color as well as possibly develop a bright red rash in a couple of days. The mother was advised to take the child to the emergency room if he developed difficulty swallowing or had excess salivation. If any questions or new symptoms arose, they were advised to call the poison center back.

 Case #2
A school secretary contacted the poison center regarding a student that was accidentally given a double dose of his ADHD medication about 5 minutes apart. The specialist gathered the student's weight, age & symptoms and determined that the dose was not sufficient to refer the child in to the emergency room. The specialist suggested that they observe the child and to watch for symptoms of agitation, overexcitation, as well as drowsiness. The child did not develop and symptoms and the case was resolved.


There are plenty of fruits and vegetables, and other plants that we consume that could potentially be dangerous to our health if prepared or eaten improperly. Here are some you may not be aware of:

Tomatoes & potatoes
  • The actual tomatoe fruit & potato isn’t poisonous but the leaves are mildly toxic to humans. 
Apples, Cherries, and Apricots
  • The seeds of all of these fruits are not considered edible.
  • They contain a substance called amygdalin, which turns into cyanine in the body. Eating large amounts of these seeds can be toxic and even fatal. 
Rhubarb
  • The stalk is commonly eaten but the leaves are poisonous.
Mushrooms
  • Eating any amount of any wild mushroom could be very dangerous and potentially toxic. Mushrooms may look alike but be very different.
Asparagus
  • The stem we love to eat is safe, but its bright & red berry fruit can be toxic to humans if eaten.
GET TO KNOW US!
What is the Texas Poison Center Network?

The Texas Poison Center Network (TPCN) is a group of 6 regionally located poison centers across the state of Texas and the Commission on State Emergency Communications, our governing body. As a network, linked by a sophisticated telecommunications system, we provide the public assistance & treatment for poison emergencies and poison related questions. You can call us if you have a concern about a possible poisoning, to ask a poison related question, to request educational materials, or to request professional/public education. 

Where are the 6 poison centers located?


How do I reach my regional poison center in Texas?

You can reach your local poison center by calling the national Poison Help Hotline number at 1-800-222-1222. Your call will be automatically routed to the poison center that services your area, based on your area code. In Texas, your call may also be routed to another poison center within Texas to reduce wait times.  

Who will answer my call?

Your call with be answered by a medical professional (pharmacist, physician or nurse) with advanced training in Toxicology and certified by the American Association of Poison Control Centers as a Specialist in Poison Information. Did we mention that our services are free, confidential, & available to take your calls 24/7, 365 days a year!


What should I expect when I call the Poison Center?

Our specialists may ask for the following information before they are able to provide callers with treatment recommendations:
  • Name of caller
  • Zip Code
  • Phone Number
  • Name and age of poisoned person (depends on call)
  • Name of product (depends on call)
  • Amount of product missing or ingested
  • Dose or concentration of product
  • Past medical history
  • Allergies and medications used


Texas poison centers need your help!
We want to learn more about YOU & those we serve,
take our needs assessment survey found on the homepage of our website