Philodendron poisoning

The poisonous ingredient is:

• Calcium oxalate

Symptoms of this type of poisoning include:

• Blisters in the mouth
• Burning in mouth and throat
• Diarrhea
• Hoarse voice
• Increased saliva production
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pain on swallowing
• Redness, swelling, pain, and burning of the eyes, and possible corneal damage
• Swelling of the mouth and tongue

Blistering and swelling in the mouth may be severe enough to prevent normal speaking and swallowing.

Seek immediate medical help. DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by poison control or a health care provider.

If the chemical was swallowed, immediately give the person water or milk, unless instructed otherwise by poison control or a provider. DO NOT give water or milk if the person is having symptoms (such as vomiting, convulsions, or a decreased level of alertness) that make it hard to swallow.

Wipe out the mouth with a cold, wet cloth. Wash off any plant sap from the skin and eyes.

Get the following information:

• Person's age, weight, and condition
• Name and part of the plant swallowed, if known
• Time it was swallowed
• Amount swallowed

The local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does not need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You can also get online poison help now at Poisonhelp.org. Just enter the product, poison, or medicine to get expert help.

The provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. For severe reactions, tests that may be done include:

• Blood and urine tests

Treatment may include:

• Activated charcoal
• Breathing support, including tube through the mouth into the lungs and connected to a breathing machine (ventilator)
• Fluids through a vein (by IV)
• Laxatives
• Medicine to treat the effects of the poison and other symptoms

How well you do depends on the amount of poison swallowed and how quickly treatment is received. The faster you get medical help, the better the chance for recovery.

In rare cases, swelling is severe enough to block the airways.

DO NOT touch or eat any plant with which you are not familiar. Wash your hands after working in the garden or walking in the woods.

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Lim CS, Aks SE. Plants, herbal medications, and mushrooms. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 153.

Meehan TJ. Care of the poisoned patient. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 135.

Nelson LS, Calello DP. Acute poisoning. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 96.

Theobald JL, Corcoran JN. Poisoning. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 94.

Updated by: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.