An Unusual Cause of Upper Airway Obstruction: A Case Report

Background: Dumb cane, or Dieffenbachia, is a tropical decorative house plant belonging to the Araceae family and the Arum class, and its colored leaves are appealing to children.

Objective: The rationale of this report is to notify health workers and the community about the danger of such plant poisoning and increase awareness about its toxic effect on humans.

Case Report: A 14-month-old girl presented to the emergency department complaining of a history of cough, difficult breathing, excessive crying, lip swelling, and drooling of saliva after ingestion of Dieffenbachia. Upon arrival, she had mild respiratory distress associated with stridor. Her examination showed lip swelling, tongue sore, and redness with scattered blisters. These symptoms resolved after a few hours of receiving respiratory support with oxygen therapy, intravenous fluids, intravenous Dexamethasone, racemic epinephrine, oral antihistamines, and normal saline rinses.

Conclusion: The community lacks awareness about home plant poisoning. The significance of reporting such cases highlights the need for parents and community awareness to prevent the toxicity of more people, especially youngsters.