Signs & Symptoms of Hemlock Allergy

Hemlock is a highly poisonous plant that is a subspecies of the Apiaceae family, also known as water hemlock. This plant is native to many regions in the northern hemisphere, including the United States and the United Kingdom This plant's normal habitat is moist areas, including meadows and marshes. Ingestion of the Hemlock plant results in a severe anaphylactic (allergic) response in humans as well as livestock. The effects of this reaction require immediate and aggressive medical attention to avoid death.

Seizures

• The main toxins found within the Hemlock plant are cicutoxin and oenanthotoxin. These chemicals interact with nerves and interrupt the communication of neurotransmitters. The resulting central nervous system (CNS) response is seizures and involuntary muscle contractions, known as ataxia. These seizures are extremely severe, mimicking the symptoms of a tonic-clonic seizure, and can result in death if not treated immediately.

Nausea and Vomiting

• The initial reaction to the ingestion of hemlock is vomiting, nausea and severe abdominal pain. These symptoms may occur as early as 15 minutes after the ingestion of the plant. These are usually the first symptoms a patient experiences; however, in some cases, seizures may occur first. This poison may also lead to kidney failure if not treated in time.

Heart Rate Changes and Difficulty Breathing

• As a result of the neurological mechanism this toxin uses, patients alternate between bradycardia and tachycardia (low and fast heart rate). This in and of itself may result in a dangerous cardiovascular failure in patients with compromised cardiovascular systems. Further, this alternating between high and low heart rates results in marked increases and decreases in blood pressure over relatively small periods of time. Patients often require their airway to be intubated as a result of shallow or complete loss of the ability to breathe on their own.