Ergotism, also known as Fogo de Santo Antônio, is a disease caused by toxins produced by fungi present in rye and other cereals that can be acquired by people when consuming products contaminated by spores produced by these fungi, in addition to being able to be developed through the excessive consumption of drugs derived from ergotamine, for example.
This disease is quite old, being considered a disease of the Middle Ages, and is characterized by neurological signs and symptoms, such as loss of consciousness, severe headache and hallucinations, and there may also be alterations in the blood circulation, which can result in gangrene, due to example.
It is important that ergotism is identified as soon as the first signs and symptoms appear, as it is then possible to start treatment right away with the aim of preventing complications and promoting the person's improvement.
Symptoms of ergotism
The symptoms of ergotism are related to the toxin produced by the fungus of the genus Claviceps, which can be found in cereals, and cause changes in the central nervous system and blood vessels, and there may be:
- Mental confusion;
- Seizure;
- Loss of consciousness;
- Severe headache;
- Difficulty walking;
- Pale hands and feet;
- Itching and burning sensation on the skin;
- Gangrene;
- Abdominal pain;
- Nausea and Vomiting;
- Diarrhea;
- Abortion;
- Eat and die, in cases where the amount of circulating toxin is very high;
- Hallucinations, which can happen due to the presence of lysergic acid in the toxin produced by this group of fungi.
Despite the signs and symptoms related to this disease, the toxin produced by the genus of fungi responsible for ergotism is being extensively studied, because the toxin consists of some substances that could be used in the manufacture of drugs for the treatment of migraine and post hemorrhage. -birth, for example.
However, the drugs based on these substances should be used according to the doctor's recommendation, because if a dose is consumed above the recommended, it is possible that symptoms of ergotism may develop.
How the treatment is done
As it is an uncommon disease nowadays, there is no specific treatment for ergotism, being indicated by the doctor treatments related to the improvement of the signs and symptoms presented by the person. In addition, in some cases hospitalization may be necessary for the person to be monitored and complications to be prevented.
In the case of ergotism caused by medications, the doctor's recommendation is usually to suspend or change the dosage of the medication used, as it is thus possible to relieve the symptoms presented.
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Bibliography
- FLOREA, Simona; PANACCIONE, Daniel G .; SCHARDL, Christopher L .. Ergot Alkaloids of the Family Clavicipitaceae. Phytopathology. Vol 107. 5 ed; 504-518, 2017
- ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA. Ergot - fungal disease of plants. Available in: . Accessed on 28 Jul 2020
- Edison Barreto de Souza; Márcia Marinho Gomes de Araújo. Acute arterial occlusion by ergotamine derivatives. J Vasc Bras 2009, Vol. 8, N ° 3. pp. 281-284, Available in:
