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What is Ergot Poisoning?
Ergot is a case of fungus that grows on the grains and produces toxic alkaloids . The ergots can mix in levelheaded food grain during the time of harvest contaminating any product made with this caryopsis . eat contaminated grains or the products made from them can lead to ergot fungus poisoning .
Ergot can affect the nervous system , digestive system , and cardiovascular organization . It can also lead togangrene .
Is Ergot a Medicine
Despite the perniciousness , ergot was used in the past as a medicinal drug . It was found that pregnant pigs get into premature labor after eating Claviceps purpurea . This made the midwives use ergot in humans . They used to give the whole ergot to female in labor and low doses for a restricted full point of time .
Its use during childbirth came more into use during the 1800s and the Doctor started using it to speed up labor even if there was no risk of complication.(1)This increase the stillbirths .
In the 20th hundred , ergot alkaloid was isolated from the fungus and turn into drugs . It is still being used by Dr. as ergotamine and ergometrine , both of which are ergot alkaloid .
Ergotamine is used in the treatment of migraine . It stimulates the line of descent vessels to constrict , decreasing the dilatation of arteries .
Ergometrine is also a drug that constricts the blood vessel and is used to keep bleeding after birth .
Research is going on to study the use of ergot - base medicine inParkinson ’s diseaseanddementia .
Symptoms of Ergot Poisoning
Ergot poisoning symptoms are categorized into 3 types :
Neurological Symptoms
The neurological symptoms include :
These symptom caused due to ergot intoxication are also sleep with as convulsive ergotism .
Gastrointestinal Symptoms
The gastrointestinal symptoms include :
Blood Vessel Symptoms
Claviceps purpurea alkaloids can lead to constriction of the blood vessels for prolonged periods , and the condition is bonk as vasospasm .
Vasospasm come about in large artery i.e those of the kidney , retina , neck opening , and heart . Also , the legs and feet are affected in 60 - 70 % of cases.(2 )
The vasospasm restricts the blood and oxygen supplying to the areas the arteries supply bloodline to . This may pass to coolness , achromasia , andmuscle painduring activity .
Sometimes when the tissue do not get enough oxygen for a recollective period of time , they snuff it and become mortified . On rare social occasion , there may be thrombosis i.e closure of the stemma watercraft by a blood clot .
The research was conducted that recounted 1844 case where ergot was used for abortion , it was found that using it resulted in the death of the fraught female.(3 )
Diagnosis and Treatment of Ergot Poisoning
Ergot poisoning may present otherwise in different cases , therefore , the way of life to name it may diverge from person to person .
If a individual develops cool branch and foot after acquire ergot - free-base medicament , a doctor may perform :
If the narrowing of arteries is shown in the angiography , ergot poisoning is indicated . The treatment may involve discontinue the drug , as well as tobacco and caffein as these substances can constrict the lineage vessels .
For some mass , the problem may break up in 10 twenty-four hour period . If the drug is used for sustain periods the disappearing of symptom may take several days .
Antiplatelet therapy is an extra treatment . thrombocyte advertize normal curdling , so antiplatelet therapy may prevent clotting and quash the risk .
surgical process may be needed if a person has botheration at sleep and gangrene .
Ergot poisoning can occur when a person ingests ergots through grains . The fungus turns the grain firmly and black . It can lead to neurological , gastrointestinal , or cardiovascular symptoms . Since the discovery of Claviceps purpurea and its perniciousness , the toxic condition has become rare . Still , the outbreaks occur . If a somebody assume ergot - based medications for a long time , it can result in Claviceps purpurea poisoning . Hence before taking any such medication , a doctor should be consulted and the professional and cons of discussion should be discussed .
