Toxicology: datura poisoning: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Forensic Medicine · Toxicology: datura poisoning

Sample item

A pilgrim given a spiked sweet becomes delirious, with dry hot flushed skin, dilated pupils, tachycardia and urinary retention. Which antidote can be used for severe agitation due to this poison?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Physostigmine

Datura contains atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine, causing an anticholinergic syndrome of dry skin, mydriasis, fever, delirium and retention. Physostigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor that crosses the blood-brain barrier, reverses severe central and peripheral features, with benzodiazepines for agitation. Atropine would worsen the picture.

Option by option

  • A. Atropine

    Atropine is itself an anticholinergic and would worsen toxicity.

  • B. Naloxone

    Naloxone reverses opioid effects, with pinpoint pupils rather than dilated ones.

  • C. Physostigmine (correct)

    Correct. Physostigmine reverses anticholinergic toxicity.

  • D. Pralidoxime

    Pralidoxime reactivates cholinesterase in organophosphate poisoning and not here.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is C, Physostigmine. Datura contains atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine, causing an anticholinergic syndrome of dry skin, mydriasis, fever, delirium and retention.

Why is "Atropine" not the answer?

Atropine is itself an anticholinergic and would worsen toxicity.

Why is "Naloxone" not the answer?

Naloxone reverses opioid effects, with pinpoint pupils rather than dilated ones.

Why is "Pralidoxime" not the answer?

Pralidoxime reactivates cholinesterase in organophosphate poisoning and not here.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Toxicology: datura poisoning in Forensic Medicine. Physostigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor that crosses the blood-brain barrier, reverses severe central and peripheral features, with benzodiazepines for agitation. Atropine would worsen the picture.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Toxicology: datura poisoning?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.