Turkish Journal of Geriatrics 2012 , Vol 15, Issue 1
A RARE CAUSE OF SYNCOPE AMONG GERIATRIC PATIENTS: MAD HONEY INTOXICATION
Alper ALP1, Sevnaz ŞAPPAK2, Sibel Demiral SEZER3, Canan ÇOLAK4, Mert ÖZBAKKALOĞLU5
1Adnan Menderes Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Nefroloji Bilim Dalı AYDIN
2Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Geriatri Bilim Dalı İZMİR
3Ağrı Devlet Hastanesi İç Hastalıkları Bölümü AĞRI
4Bismil Devlet Hastanesi İç Hastalıkları Bölümü BİSMİL/DİYARBAKIR
5Tepecik Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi İç Hastalıkları Bölümü Klinik Şef Yardımcısı İZMİR Among the population of geriatric patients, various etiologies such as orthostatic hypotension and neurological and cardiological disorders may cause syncope. An endemic cause of syncope particularly in the Black Sea region of Turkey is mad honey exposure. Mad honey is commonly used in the community as an alternative treatment for dyspeptic disorders, coronary heart disease, and enhancing sexual performance. Mad honey intoxication may have various clinical manifestations such as nausea, dizziness, sweating and fatal arrhythmias like atrioventricular block and asystole. One of the most common symptoms of mad honey intoxication is syncope caused by low blood pressure and bradyarrhythmia. In this case report, it was aimed to be pointed out mad honey exposure as a rare etiology of syncopal epsiode among geriatric patients. Keywords : Honey; Syncope; Bradycardia; Hypotension