Koorts, grote ogen en verwardheid; het anticholinergisch syndroom

- A 52-year-old woman was in a confused state and had difficulty walking and swallowing, as well as dysarthria. That same day she had consumed some berries, which she thought were bilberries, but she had instead eaten Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade). She made a spontaneous and full recovery within a few days. A 3-year-old boy, with amblyopia, was vomiting, had difficulty walking and had a temperature of 39°C. He was agitated and had a warm, red skin and dilated pupils that did not respond to light. A suspected intoxication with a parasympathicolytic agent was confirmed upon an empty bottle of atropine eye drops being found at his home. The boy made a full recovery following treatment with physostigmine. It is important to consider an anticholinergenic intoxication in the case of patients who are confused, have difficulty speaking, large fixed pupils and fever. A specific anamnesis with respect to medicines, eye drops and berries or plants consumed can confirm the diagnosis. It is important to recognise an anticholinergic intoxication because without treatment, the outcome can be fatal.