Altered mental status and delayed serious allergic reaction after drinking the boiled water of nettle (Urtica dioica)

Abstract

Members of nettle family plants (Urticaceae) are frequently found in Anatolia. In Turkey, the most seen kind is Urtica dioica. The people believe that the nettle is useful in cancer therapy, diseases of pancreas, high blood sugar and common cold. Although local allergic reactions of nettle is well known, altered mental status and delayed serious allergic reactions has not been reported yet. In the case report, we report a case of altered mental status and a delayed serious allergic reaction due to the ingestion of boiled nettle water.