A 22-Year Retrospective Review of Carolina Jessamine ( Gelsemium sempervirens ) Plant Exposures Reported to 2 Poison Control Centers

Introduction Carolina jessamine ( Gelsemium sempervirens ) is an evergreen vine containing highly toxic alkaloids that have caused human injury and death. Because this plant is similar to the honeysuckle plant, foraging errors are common. Methods Retrospective review of all patients with G. sempervirens ingestion s from 1/1/2000 to 4/20/2022 as reported to 2 poison centers that were followed for at least 2 hours post-ingestion. Demographics, clinical effects, intended use of the plant material, whether the plant material was heated, and the presence of case clustering were abstracted. Case outcomes included no effect, minor, moderate, and major effect, with no effect/minor outcomes and moderate/major outcomes grouped for analysis. Results There were 283 cases included, with the majority ( n = 266) aged <18 years and a mean age of 7.3 years; the age group with the greatest number of exposures was the 6-to-12-year-old age group ( n = 187). There were 57 case clusters in the data set that collectively accounted for 175 of the patients (61.8%). Overall clinical effects were minor, especially in the <6-year-old age group where 100% had no effect/minor outcomes. Cases in which the plant material was heated ( n = 11) were more likely to have a severe outcome (27.3%) than those that did not (0.4%); odds ratio 101.6 (95% CI 9.5–1087). Conclusions Outcomes following pediatric exposure to G. sempervirens were generally mild. Severe illness was more likely in cases where the plant material was heated as part of preparation. Exploratory pediatric exposures to the raw plant material may be observed without HCF referral.