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Nutmeg intoxication in Texas, 1998–2004

Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit, Texas Department of State Health Services, 1100 W 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756, USAmathias.forrester{at}dshs.state.tx.us

Nutmeg is a spice that contains volatile oils comprised of alkyl benzene derivatives (myristicin, elemicin, safrole, etc.), terpenes and myristic acid. Nutmeg has a long history of abuse. This study describes the nutmeg ingestion calls received by Texas poison centers from 1998 to 2004. There were 17 calls involving nutmeg ingestion, of which 64.7% involved intentional abuse. When abuse and non-abuse ingestions were compared, abuse ingestions were more likely to involve males (100 versus 66.7%) and adolescents (55.6 versus 16.7%). The majority of both abuse and non-abuse calls were managed outside of health care facilities (54.5 and 66.7%, respectively). None of the ingestions resulted in more than moderate clinical effects or death.

Key Words: intoxication • nutmeg • poison center

Human & Experimental Toxicology, Vol. 24, No. 11, 563-566 (2005)
DOI: 10.1191/0960327105ht567oa


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