Many of us agree that our home needs green. I am of the theory that the greener the better, and if I could turn my house into a small rainforest we would be happy.

With this terrifying message begins a chain of messages shared through email and social networks that describe Dieffenbachia.

This woman’s son died from a plant that seemed harmless, which she had in her house.

You have sent us a Facebook post warning of the deadly risk of having a  Dieffenbachia  at home, a fairly common decorative plant.

The publication tells the story of a man who, while caring for his plant, broke one of its branches and held it in his mouth for a moment when his hands were busy and when he lightly pressed his lips he began to suffer a series of symptoms: burning in the mouth , breathing problems, intense pain in the airways…

Dieffenbachia  is a genus of tropical plants, and many of them are used as indoor plants because they tolerate being in the shade without much problem .  They are recognized by the lighter spots on the inside of the leaves.

It is true that the leaves and stems of  Dieffenbachia  contain some components that can be toxic (oxalic acid and asparagine), and that contact with them can cause irritation and burning of the mouth and respiratory tract if swallowed, and difficulty breathing. in the most serious cases. It can also cause symptoms if it comes into contact with the eyes or blood.