The Jerusalem cherry is a plant that belongs to the same family as the deadly nightshade. It has small, round, red and orange fruit. Jerusalem cherry poisoning occurs when someone eats pieces of this plant.

Solanocapsine

The poison is found throughout the Jerusalem cherry plant, but especially in the unripened fruit and leaves.

• Coma
• Delirium
• Diarrhea
• Drowsiness
• Enlarged (dilated) pupils
• Hallucinations
• Headache
• Low blood pressure
• Slowed breathing
• Slow pulse
• Stomach pain
• Vomiting

Seek immediate medical help. Do NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by Poison Control or a health care professional.

Determine the following information:

• Patient's age, weight, and condition
• Name of product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
• Time it was swallowed
• Amount swallowed

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

See: Poison control center - emergency number

The health care provider will measure and monitor your vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. You may receive:

• Activated charcoal
• Fluids
• Tube through the mouth into the stomach to wash out the stomach (gastric lavage)

How well you do depends on the amount of poison swallowed and how quickly treatment is received. The faster you get medical help, the better the chance for recovery.