J Korean Child Neurol Soc.  2010 May;18(1):129-132.

Generalized Convulsions Caused by Overconsumption of Ginkgo Nuts in 6 Year-old Male

• Jung J
• Rho YI

Abstract

The ginkgo nuts are commonly eaten because of its nutritive value. It also taken as an herbal medicine for its antitussive and expectorant properties throughout Korea, Japan, and China. A range of symptoms of ginkgo nut intoxication including vomiting, abdominal pain, irritability, headaches, and seizures have been reported. It can be fetal in severe cases if emergency care was not available. It was discovered that the toxicity of ginkgo nuts was due to 4-O-methoxypyridoxine. The convulsion can be prevented by administration of anticonvulsants and pyridoxal phosphate. We report a 6-year-old male, without any past or family histories of epilepsy, who presented with generalized tonic clonic seizures. About 7 hours before the seizure, he had consumed approximately 40 roasted ginkgo nuts. He exhibited vomiting and abdominal pain 5 hours after ingestion. After treatment with diazepam and pyridoxal phosphate, his symptoms were resolved and electroencephalogram was normalized. We report on the patient and emphasize pediatricians and parents who have children should be recognizing that neurotoxicity of ginkgo nuts, particularity convulsion inducing effect, can occur occasionally.

Keyword

Ginkgo nut; Seizures; 4-O-methoxypyridoxine

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Anticonvulsants
Child
China
Diazepam
Eating
Electroencephalography
Emergency Medical Services
Epilepsy
Ginkgo biloba
Headache
Herbal Medicine
Humans
Japan
Korea
Male
Nutritive Value
Nuts
Parents
Pyridoxal Phosphate
Pyridoxine
Seizures
Vomiting
Anticonvulsants
Diazepam
Pyridoxal Phosphate
Pyridoxine