A importância do conhecimento de plantas ornamentais tóxicas para a formação profissional dos alunos de medicina, enfermagem e farmácia de uma universidade da Paraíba

Abstract

Some plants who decorate vases or gardens bring with them toxic active components camouflaged by the beauty o f some vegetables, and in specific conditions of exposure can induce serious cases of poisoning. The poisoning by ornamental plants is very important in the home environment because of inadequate and / or unknown handling of population. Should be emphasize d that these plant species can induce clinical conditions sometimes nonspecific, but important as nausea, edema, gastrointestinal problems and other complications in case of ingestion, contact with the skin, eyes or mucosa depending on the degree of toxici ty. The health professionals and the population need to be sensitized about the dangerous of the inappropriate handling of ornamental and/or toxic plants can cause to health and so the prevention and precaution should be understood. The purpose of this stu dy was to assess the knowledge and importance of toxic ornamental plants in the academic environment with graduate students in nursing, pharmacy and medicine from a University of Paraíba. The research was developed through a bibliographic survey in the lit erature together with the application of semi - structured questionnaire. It was verified that most students interviewed do not have enough knowledge about the species and the risks that may cause, this reinforces the need for educational strategies for thes e future health professionals who can promote the process of prevention and public awareness contributing significantly for the control and reduction of accidents.