An Illinois boy suffered anaphylactic shock and nearly died when he touched a poisonous weed while doing yard work with his family, reports said.
Rayden Vollrath, 7, was helping his stepmom and father clear his family’s Pike County property when he pulled out pokeweeds, a highly toxic plant known for its purple berries.
“Long story short, he came in contact with pokeweed and the milk from the stalk got on his nails, I’m guessing or some sort,” his mother, Danielle Carnicelli, told WGEM.
“He went to scratch his face and then ended up having an allergic reaction and then progressed to anaphylactic shock,” he added.
Ryan’s face and arms began swelling, with the burning sensations taking over as the 7-year-old struggled to breath, leading him to be hospitalized for two days.
“It hurt. A lot. My chest was burning and I couldn’t breathe,” Ryan recalled of the experience.
Carnicelli described the experience as “traumatic,” recalling how nurses threw rags on him to try and fight the swelling at 3 a.m. because the pain kept Ryan awake.
It was at the hospital that Carnicelli learned that not only was her son exposed to pokeweed, he was also allergic to the toxic plant.
The family was sent home with an EpiPen and eight different medications to help with the symptoms, including the swelling that left his face puffed and red.
“Rayden is a spit fire and with all glory to god himself for this recovery,” Carnicelli wrote in a Facebook update.
The relieved mother said that the episode served as a learning experience that can help spread the word over the dangers of pokeweed.
All parts of the pokeweed plant are toxic to humans, including its roots, leaves and stems, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Its sap can cause severe skin irritation and blistering, and it can be fatal to both humans and pets if eaten.
