A 39-year-old man in Canada required multiple emergency room visits after consuming a large quantity of raw pumpkin seeds, according to a report. The incident highlights a potential, though uncommon, health risk associated with consuming pumpkin seeds with the outer shell intact.
The man, identified as A, experienced severe abdominal pain and constipation several days after eating numerous pumpkin seeds from three pumpkins during a Halloween event, according to the report. Initial treatment at the emergency room included polyethylene glycol (PEG), a laxative, and saline enemas, but his symptoms did not improve.
Imaging and endoscopic examinations revealed a large mass of pumpkin seeds in his rectum. He had initially visited two other hospitals over a two-day period, where attempts to physically remove the seeds were only partially successful. He was advised to return if his pain worsened or if he developed fever, chills, or perianal abscesses.
The patient returned to the emergency room when his pain persisted despite bowel movements. Doctors noted he did not exhibit signs of blood in his stool, vomiting, abdominal distension, or tenderness, and his vital signs were normal. However, an endoscopic examination confirmed the presence of a hard mass and pumpkin seeds in his rectum.
Medical staff were able to fragment some of the seeds using an endoscope and remove approximately half of the mass with a retrieval device and further enemas. PEG was continued, and a follow-up endoscopy was performed the next day. Subsequently, several pumpkin seeds were naturally expelled during bowel movements.
Further rectal examination and colonoscopy revealed no remaining seeds, leading doctors to believe they had been naturally eliminated. The case underscores the importance of removing the outer shell of pumpkin seeds before consumption, as the fibrous husk can cause digestive issues. While generally considered a healthy snack, consuming large quantities of unhulled pumpkin seeds can lead to significant gastrointestinal distress.
