EUPHORBIA TIRUCALLI

Course overview

EUPHORBIA TIRUCALLI, COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE PENCIL CACTUS OR MILK BUSH PLANT, IS USED EXTENSIVELY FOR ORNAMENTAL PURPOSES IN THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES AND CONTAINS A TOXIC SAP TO HUMANS. IN ADDITION, THE SAP IS AMONG THE MOST IRRITATING PLANT SUBSTANCES KNOWN AND CAUSES HARMFUL EFFECTS FOLLOWING DERMAL OR MUCOUS MEMBRANE CONTACT, PARTICULARLY OCULAR EXPOSURE. THUS, ITS TIMELY IDENTIFICATION AND INTERVENTION HELP TO REDUCE SEVERE COMPLICATIONS, INCLUDING BLINDNESS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF EUPHORBIA SAP EXPOSURE AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE HEALTHCARE TEAM IN IMPROVING CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.