Poisoning From "Spanish Fly" (cantharidin) - PubMed

Clipboard, Search History, and several other advanced features are temporarily unavailable. Skip to main page content

The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation Search: Search Advanced Clipboard Save Email Send to

• Clipboard
• My Bibliography
• Collections
• Citation manager

Display options Display options Format Abstract PubMed PMID

Save citation to file

Format: Summary (text) PubMed PMID Abstract (text) CSV Create file Cancel

Email citation

Email address has not been verified. Go to My NCBI account settings to confirm your email and then refresh this page. To: Subject: Body: Format: Summary Summary (text) Abstract Abstract (text) MeSH and other data Send email Cancel

Add to Collections

• Create a new collection
• Add to an existing collection

Name your collection: Name must be less than 100 characters Choose a collection: Unable to load your collection due to an error Please try again Add Cancel

Add to My Bibliography

• My Bibliography

Unable to load your delegates due to an error Please try again Add Cancel

Your saved search

Name of saved search: Search terms: Test search terms Would you like email updates of new search results? Saved Search Alert Radio Buttons

• Yes
• No

Email: (change) Frequency: Monthly Weekly Daily Which day? The first Sunday The first Monday The first Tuesday The first Wednesday The first Thursday The first Friday The first Saturday The first day The first weekday Which day? Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Report format: Summary Summary (text) Abstract Abstract (text) PubMed Send at most: 1 item 5 items 10 items 20 items 50 items 100 items 200 items Send even when there aren't any new results Optional text in email: Save Cancel

Create a file for external citation management software

Create file Cancel

Your RSS Feed

Name of RSS Feed: Number of items displayed: 5 10 15 20 50 100 Create RSS Cancel RSS Link Copy

Full text links

Elsevier Science Full text links

Actions

CiteCollectionsAdd to Collections

• Create a new collection
• Add to an existing collection

Name your collection: Name must be less than 100 characters Choose a collection: Unable to load your collection due to an errorPlease try again Add Cancel PermalinkPermalinkCopyDisplay options Display options Format AbstractPubMedPMID

Page navigation

• Title & authors
• Abstract
• Publication types
• MeSH terms
• Substances
• LinkOut - more resources

Title & authors Abstract Publication types MeSH terms Substances LinkOut - more resources Full text links CiteDisplay options Display options Format AbstractPubMedPMID

Abstract

Cantharidin, known popularly as Spanish fly, has been used for millennia as a sexual stimulant. The chemical is derived from blister beetles and is notable for its vesicant properties. While most commonly available preparations of Spanish fly contain cantharidin in negligible amounts, if at all, the chemical is available illicitly in concentrations capable of causing severe toxicity. Symptoms of cantharidin poisoning include burning of the mouth, dysphagia, nausea, hematemesis, gross hematuria, and dysuria. Mucosal erosion and hemorrhage is seen in the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Renal dysfunction is common and related to acute tubular necrosis and glomerular destruction. Priapism, seizures, and cardiac abnormalities are less commonly seen. We report four cases of cantharidin poisoning presenting to our emergency department with complaints of dysuria and dark urine. Three patients had abdominal pain, one had flank pain, and the one woman had vaginal bleeding. Three had hematuria and two had occult rectal bleeding. Low-grade disseminated intravascular coagulation, not previously associated with cantharidin poisoning, was noted in two patients. Management of cantharidin poisoning is supportive. Given the widespread availability of Spanish fly, its reputation as an aphrodisiac, and the fact that ingestion is frequently unwitting, cantharidin poisoning may be a more common cause of morbidity than is generally recognized. Cantharidin poisoning should be suspected in any patient presenting with unexplained hematuria or with GI hemorrhage associated with diffuse injury of the upper GI tract.

PubMed Disclaimer

Publication types

• Case Reports Actions
  • Search in PubMed
  • Search in MeSH
  • Add to Search
• Review Actions
  • Search in PubMed
  • Search in MeSH
  • Add to Search

MeSH terms

• Adolescent Actions
  • Search in PubMed
  • Search in MeSH
  • Add to Search
• Adult Actions
  • Search in PubMed
  • Search in MeSH
  • Add to Search
• Cantharidin / pharmacology Actions
  • Search in PubMed
  • Search in MeSH
  • Add to Search
• Cantharidin / poisoning* Actions
  • Search in PubMed
  • Search in MeSH
  • Add to Search
• Female Actions
  • Search in PubMed
  • Search in MeSH
  • Add to Search
• Fluid Therapy Actions
  • Search in PubMed
  • Search in MeSH
  • Add to Search
• Gastrointestinal Diseases / chemically induced Actions
  • Search in PubMed
  • Search in MeSH
  • Add to Search
• Gastrointestinal Diseases / therapy Actions
  • Search in PubMed
  • Search in MeSH
  • Add to Search
• Heart Conduction System / drug effects Actions
  • Search in PubMed
  • Search in MeSH
  • Add to Search
• Hematuria / chemically induced* Actions
  • Search in PubMed
  • Search in MeSH
  • Add to Search
• Hematuria / therapy Actions
  • Search in PubMed
  • Search in MeSH
  • Add to Search
• Humans Actions
  • Search in PubMed
  • Search in MeSH
  • Add to Search
• Irritants / poisoning* Actions
  • Search in PubMed
  • Search in MeSH
  • Add to Search
• Male Actions
  • Search in PubMed
  • Search in MeSH
  • Add to Search
• Urination Disorders / chemically induced* Actions
  • Search in PubMed
  • Search in MeSH
  • Add to Search
• Urination Disorders / therapy Actions
  • Search in PubMed
  • Search in MeSH
  • Add to Search

Substances

• Irritants Actions
  • Search in PubMed
  • Search in MeSH
  • Add to Search
• Cantharidin Actions
  • Search in PubMed
  • Search in MeSH
  • Add to Search

LinkOut - more resources

• Full Text Sources

  • Elsevier Science

• Other Literature Sources

  • The Lens - Patent Citations Database

• Medical

  • MedlinePlus Health Information

Full text links [x] Elsevier Science [x] Cite Copy Download .nbib .nbib Format: AMA APA MLA NLM Send To

• Clipboard
• Email
• Save
• My Bibliography
• Collections
• Citation Manager

[x]

NCBI Literature Resources

MeSH PMC Bookshelf Disclaimer

The PubMed wordmark and PubMed logo are registered trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Unauthorized use of these marks is strictly prohibited.