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BMJ Case Reports 2009; doi:10.1136/bcr.11.2008.1241
  • Rare disease

Life-threatening episode after ingestion of toad eggs: a case report with literature review

  1. Hung-Yi Kuo1,
  2. Chin-Wang Hsu2,
  3. Jiann-Hwa Chen1,
  4. Yung-Lung Wu1,
  5. Ying-Sheng Shen1
  1. 1
    Department of Emergency Medicine, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Fu Jen Catholic University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
  2. 2
    National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
  1. Y-S Shen, yingsheng1024{at}yahoo.com.tw
  • Published 10 May 2009

Summary

It is known that the toad possesses several toxic substances in the skin and parotid glands. In the past, toad-venom poisoning has been reported from ingestion of toad soup, Kyushin and aphrodisiac pills, but poisoning from toad eggs is observed for the first time. The case of a healthy female who had previously eaten toad soup twice without any discomfort is reported. She developed gastrointestinal symptoms and life-threatening cardiac rhythm after ingestion of toad eggs. A transvenous temporary pacemaker was used promptly to prevent from lethal bradyarrhythmia. Hyperkalaemia was managed with insulin, glucose water and sodium bicarbonate. A digoxin-specific Fab fragment was administered to this young woman 4 h subsequent to her admission.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: none.

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