Jatropha curcas poisoning

Menezes Ritesh G1, Rao Nageshkumar G2, Karanth Suman S1, Kamath
Asha1, Manipady Shahnavaz2, Pillay VV3
1 Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India
2 Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, India
3 Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Cochin, India

Eventually, with the increase in Jatropha cultivation in the years
to come, there is a likelihood of an increase in the incidence of
accidental poisoning with Jatropha. This makes it peremptory to
provide more toxicological information to the treating physicians,
especially those practicing in rural regions. About 10-15 isolated
cases of Jatropha poisoning per year are reported to the authors
(unpublished data).[1] The medical fraternity would benefit if
Kulkarni et al[1] publish the epidemiological data on Jatropha
poisoning in their region, in the near future.

Incidentally, as already mentioned, all the Jatropha poisoning
victims reported have been in the pediatric age group.[1],[2],[3],
[4] In general, accidental pediatric poisoning must be recognized as
a global public health problem with significant opportunities for
prevention. Effective prevention of accidental pediatric poisoning
requires programmes and policies that address known risk factors.
Local data collection or surveillance is required to identify
specific risk factors associated with accidental pediatric poisoning
in a particular region.

Parents and caretakers should be made aware of the potential
toxicological dangers that children may come across, and this would
certainly reduce accidental pediatric poisoning emergencies and
financial burden on the community.[6] Older children should be
taught in schools to avoid experimentation with unfamiliar plant
substances and household chemicals.[6]


Menezes RG, Rao NG, Karanth SS, Kamath A, Manipady S, Pillay VV.
Jatropha curcas poisoning. Indian J Pediatr [serial online] 2006
[cited 2006 Sep 3];73:634-634. Available from:
http://www.ijppediatricsindia.org/article.asp?issn=0019-
5456;year=2006;volume=73;issue=7;spage=634;epage=634;aulast=Menezes