How poisonous is oleander to humans?

Oleander (Nerium oleander) is a common ornamental evergreen shrub. It is used as a freeway median divider in warmer states, such as California. This plant is extremely toxic, and a single leaf may kill an adult.

Is it OK to touch oleander?

Oleander is so toxic, humans don't even have to ingest it to experience symptoms of poisoning — just touching the plant and tree sap with bare hands or inhaling the smoke of burning oleander can induce toxic effects.

What does oleander do to a person?

Oleander (Nerium oleander) is a flowering shrub. It contains chemicals called toxic cardiac glycosides, which can lead to death when consumed. The cardiac glycosides in oleander affect the heart. These chemicals can slow the heart rate down.

What happens if you eat oleander?

Oleander is LIKELY UNSAFE for anyone to take by mouth. It can cause a burning sensation in the mouth, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, headache, stomach pain, serious heart problems, and many other side effects. Taking the oleander leaf, oleander leaf tea, or oleander seeds has led to deadly poisonings.

How do I know if I have oleander poisoning?

The clinical features of oleander poisoning are therefore similar to digoxin toxicity and include nausea and vomiting and lethal brady- and tachyarrhythmias including asystole and ventricular fibrillation.

What happens if you smell oleander?

Skin irritation is the most common toxic effect. It is also common with exposure to smoke fumes if oleander is burned. Inhaled smoke fumes can cause severe irritation to the airways as well as cause systemic toxicity due to the cardiac glycosides and digitoxigenin within the plant.

How long does oleander poisoning last?

1 to 3 days

Symptoms last for 1 to 3 days and may require a hospital stay. Death is unlikely. DO NOT touch or eat any plant with which you are not familiar.

Is there an antidote for oleander?

Atropine is the most widely used agent in treating oleander induced bradyarrhythmias [1].

What is the most poisonous plant in the world?

oleander

The oleander, also known as laurel of flower or trinitaria, is a shrub plant (of Mediterranean origin and therefore, resistant to droughts) with intensely green leaves and whose leaves, flowers, stems, branches and seeds are all highly poisonous, hence it is also known as "the most poisonous plant in the world".

How long does it take for oleander to poison you?

Major symptoms of oleander poisoning are cardiac and gastrointestinal in nature and appears 2-4 hours after ingestion [4,5].

How fast is oleander poison?

Major symptoms of oleander poisoning are cardiac and gastrointestinal in nature and appears 2-4 hours after ingestion [4,5].