Podophyllin

A Rare Case of Podophyllin Poisoning: Early Intervention is Lifesaving

Accidental poisoning in children is very common, making up 10.9% of all unintentional injuries worldwide. Africa has the highest incidence of fatal poisonings worldwide, at 4 per 100,000. Poisoning with podophyllin is rare, with most cases documented around the 1970s to 1980s. Podophyllin is a resin mixture obtained from the dried Rhizome and roots of Podophyllin peltatum (North America) and Podopyllin emodi (India). Podophyllotoxin is the most toxic chemical present in the podophyllin, which is lipid soluble; so crosses the cell membrane easily and inhibits mitotic spindle formation. Both topical application and oral consumption can cause podophyllin poisoning. Neurotoxicity is the most serious effect along with bone marrow depression, gastrointestinal irritation, and hepatic and renal dysfunction. Management of podophyllin toxicity is mainly symptomatic, and no specific antidote exists. We report a case of a 2-year-old-year girl with accidental podophyllin poisoning, who presented with neurotoxicity followed by multiorgan dysfunction and then succumbed. Education of parents and healthcare workers on home safety still remains the mainstay of prevention. How to cite this article: Jain MK, Patnaik S, Rup AR, Gaurav A. A Rare Case of Podophyllin Poisoning: Early Intervention is Lifesaving. Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(6):477-479.

Human papillomavirus, condylomata acuminata, and anal neoplasia

Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is an increasingly common sexually transmitted disease. This virus causes condylomata acuminata and is associated with anal neoplasia. Management options are discussed.

European course on HPV associated pathology: guidelines for primary care physicians for the diagnosis and management of anogenital warts

The European Course on HPV Associated Pathology (ECHPV) was founded in 1990 by a group of clinicians, pathologists, and virologists to teach important principles for the practice and management of human papillomavirus (HPV) disease to gynaecologists, dermatologists, and other medical disciplines. These guidelines are intended to assist the practice of primary care physicians for diagnosis and treatment of anogenital warts.

Human papillomavirus infections of the genital tract

Infection of the genital tract by HPV is a sexually transmitted disease of increasing prevalence. The association of HPV infection with genital tract malignancies is of great concern, and further studies are needed to clarify this association. Few investigators believe at this time that proof of a direct causative role exists for HPV in these cancers, but indirect evidence of such a role is abundant. There are many clinical forms of HPV infection of the genital tract, and few clinicians can easily recognize them all. Treatment of condyloma acuminatum is difficult and frustrating. Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen is the safest and most effective therapy for most forms of condyloma acuminatum. Recurrence of condyloma acuminatum is common with all presently used forms of therapy, probably owing to latent HPV infection in normal-appearing skin. No form of treatment is ideal for all forms of condyloma acuminatum, but without continued efforts to find better therapeutic modalities and preventative measures, the epidemic of genital HPV infection will continue unchecked.