7-year-old Rayden Vollrath from Illinois, was hospitalized after suffering a severe allergic reaction when he came into contact with a plant growing in his yard.
The episode occurred while Rayden was helping his family clean the garden. The boy pulled out some weeds with his bare hands and later apparently brought traces of the plant to his face when he touched himself. Hours later, he began to develop a reaction that quickly worsened.
His face and other parts of his body swelled, and he began having difficulty breathing. The reaction progressed to anaphylactic shock, a medical emergency that can compromise breathing and circulation and requires immediate treatment.
The plant involved was pokeweed, scientifically known as Phytolacca americana. The species contains toxic substances, and its various parts can cause problems if ingested or if there is contact with the plant, although the severity of exposure depends on the circumstances.
Rayden was taken to a hospital, where he remained for two days. Doctors later determined that he had developed an allergic reaction to the plant.
The case occurred in Illinois, and was recounted by the family to warn about the risks of handling unknown plants. What began as a routine gardening task ended up causing a medical emergency for a child who, until then, had simply been helping clean the yard.
*Pokeweed can be identified by its stems, which often take on reddish or purplish hues, large, smooth leaves, and, when mature, small dark purple or nearly black berries grouped in hanging clusters. It can reach several meters in height and usually grows in gardens, along roadsides, and in disturbed areas.