A 7-year-old Illinois boy was hospitalized for two days after a severe allergic reaction to pokeweed, a toxic plant he encountered while doing yard work. The incident occurred in Pike County when Rayden Vollrath came into contact with the plant, which has purple berries and a milky sap.
According to his mother, Danielle Carnicelli, Rayden touched the plant, and sap from its stalk may have gotten on his hands or nails. He then scratched his face, leading to an allergic reaction that rapidly progressed to anaphylactic shock. The boy reported experiencing a burning sensation, chest pain, and difficulty breathing.
Hospital staff treated Rayden for swelling, and his mother learned he had a previously unknown allergy to pokeweed. The family was discharged with an EpiPen and eight different medications to manage his symptoms, including facial swelling. Carnicelli described the experience as traumatic and noted that the incident highlights the dangers of pokeweed.
All parts of the pokeweed plant are toxic to humans and animals, with ingestion potentially being fatal. The sap can cause severe skin irritation and blistering upon contact.