Accidental Castor Bean (Ricinus communis) Poisoning in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Report and Literature Review

Castor bean (Ricinus communis) poisoning is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening toxicological emergency, particularly in children.No specific antidote exists, and treatment remains primarily supportive.We report the case of an 11-year-old previously healthy girl who accidentally ingested five chewed castor beans and developed repeated vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, somnolence, and transient temporal disorientation.On admission, she was mildly dehydrated and exhibited transient neurological impairment accompanied by leukocytosis with neutrophilia, while hepatic, renal, and pancreatic function remained within normal limits.She was managed with supportive care, including intravenous fluids, antiemetic therapy, supplemental oxygen, serial laboratory testing, blood gas analyses, and continuous electrocardiographic monitoring.Gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms resolved within 48 hours, serial laboratory studies remained unremarkable, and no evidence of cardiac abnormalities or multiorgan dysfunction was observed during 72 hours of inpatient monitoring.This case highlights the considerable variability in the clinical expression of ricin toxicity and shows that complete recovery may occur despite ingesting multiple chewed castor beans, which theoretically increases toxin bioavailability.Early recognition, careful clinical observation, and timely supportive management remain the cornerstones of treatment until better prognostic markers become available.