Toxic Substances Leading to Diarrhea

 

• • Heavy Metals / Environmental Pollutants / poisoning
  • Arsenic [1], lead [2], cadmium [3], mercury [4]
  • Mechanism: Disrupt intestinal epithelial barrier, induce inflammation, alter gut microbiota → electrolyte and fluid imbalance.
  • Chronic exposure common in children; environmental exposure is a major risk
  • Bacterial Enterotoxins /  Toxin 
  • Bacillus cereus (Nhe, Hbl, cereulide toxins) [5]
  • Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin [6]
  • Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin [7].
  • Bongkrekic Acid Poisoning: 原名 米酵菌酸. https://twmmhedpc.blogspot.com/2024/04/bongkrekic-acid-poisoning.html
  • Mechanism: Toxins stimulate intestinal fluid secretion or damage intestinal lining
  • Presentation: Acute watery diarrhea, usually without blood or high fever
  • Marine Toxins
  • Diarrheic shellfish poisoning (okadaic acid) [8].
  • Ciguatera poisoning [9]
  • Presentation: Onset within a few hours after ingestion; symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea; usually lasts a few days
  • Drugs / Chemical Agents
  • Colchicine: Early hallmark symptoms include severe vomiting and diarrhea (sometimes bloody) [10].
  • Antibiotics: May induce Clostridioides difficile infection, causing pseudomembranous colitis [6].
  • Methanol Poisoning: https://twmmhedpc.blogspot.com/2020/11/substance-methanol-ch-3-oh-common-name.html
  • 硼砂Na2B4O5(OH)4·8H2O中毒; 硼酸 H3BO3中毒 https://twmmhedpc.blogspot.com/2022/12/na2b4o5oh48h2o-h3bo3.html
  • Outcome: May result in severe dehydration and systemic toxicity.

  Others:

  Bitten injury by Heloderma suspectum, 希拉毒蜥 咬傷https://twmmhedpc.blogspot.com/2024/07/heloderma-suspectum-envenomation.html

  馬纓丹: https://twmmhedpc.blogspot.com/2025/03/lantana-camara-poisoning-intoxication.html

  雞母珠  Abrin : https://twmmhedpc.blogspot.com/2024/01/abrin-poisoning.html

   

  References

  [1]. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36110556/   

  [2]. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10810333/

  [3]. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39619770/

  [4]. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38613952/

  [5]. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40695763/

  [6]. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40625918/

  [7]. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40679190/

  [8]. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40819404/

  [9]. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10081289/  

  [10]. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38947441/

   

  Edited by Yu-Jang Su, September 17, 2025