Acute naphthalene poisoning following the non-accidental ingestion of mothballs

• Published in: Singapore medical journal Vol. 50; no. 8; p. e298
• Main Authors: Lim, H C, Poulose, V, Tan, H H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore 01.08.2009
• Subjects: Acetylcysteine - therapeutic use; Adult; Anemia, Hemolytic - diagnosis; Anemia, Hemolytic - etiology; Ascorbic Acid - therapeutic use; Erythrocyte Transfusion; Female; Hemolysis; Humans; Methemoglobinemia - diagnosis; Methylene Blue - therapeutic use; Naphthalenes - poisoning; Poisoning - therapy; Suicide, Attempted; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Ingestional naphthalene mothball poisoning leading to prolonged haemolysis and methaemoglobinaemia can present with diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. A 19-year-old woman ingested 12 mothballs, and presented two days later with haemolysis and methaemoglobinaemia. She was treated with red blood c...