A Fatal Case Report of Chenopodium ambrosioides L. (M’khinza) Intoxication

TL;DR

A four-year-old girl died after being given high doses of Chenopodium ambrosioides L. for fever, highlighting the dangers of this traditional plant.

Contribution

This case report highlights the fatal risks of Chenopodium ambrosioides L. in children.

Findings

The girl was admitted with a disorder of consciousness after ingesting the plant.

Repeated high-dose infusions of the plant led to fatal intoxication.

The plant's use can cause serious neurological and systemic complications in children.

Abstract

Chenopodium ambrosioides L. is a plant belonging to the Chenopodiaceae family, known for its use in traditional medicine as a remedy for its antiseptic, analgesic, antipyretic, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is used for its therapeutic properties internally as an infusion or externally as a vermifuge. Its use can be responsible for serious, even fatal, side effects and intoxications, particularly in infants and children. These may include neurological, digestive, hepatic, or renal complications. We present a case of Chenopodium ambrosioides L. intoxication in a four-year-old girl, resulting from repeated high-dose infusions of this plant for antipyretic purposes. She was admitted to the pediatric emergency department for management of a disorder of consciousness four hours after ingesting Chenopodium ambrosioides L. to treat acute fever.