ANTICHOLINERGIC POISONING ASSOCIATED WITH HERBAL TEA

An outbreak of cholinergic poisoning occurred in New York City during a 3-day period. Seven individuals from three families of South America n origin were affected. Signs and symptoms of illness included dry ski n, hyperthermia, tachycardia, dilated pupils, agitation, and hallucina tions. Onset of illness in all cases was temporally associated with co nsumption of a tea that was labeled ''Paraguay Tea'' and was purchased from a grocery store specializing in South American foods. Paraguay t ea, made from the leaves of the holly, Ilex paraguariensis, contains c affeine and theophylline and is a popular beverage in South America. S amples of the tea analyzed with gas chromatography contained belladonn a alkaloids but neither caffeine nor theophylline. An investigation by the New York City Department of Health personnel determined that the tea was from a single lot, imported by one distributor, and sold at on e grocery store. Unsold inventories of the tea were quarantined, and n ot further cases of anticholinergic poisoning were reported.