DELAYED SYMPTOM ONSET AFTER PEDIATRIC CAMPHOR INGESTION

Year 2019, Volume: 10 Issue: 1, 11 - 13, 01.01.2019

Lori L. Boland

https://doi.org/10.33706/jemcr.550553

Cited By: 2

Abstract

Introduction:
Camphor toxicity after ingestion often causes gastrointestinal symptoms, and in
serious cases often involves neurological effects. Symptoms typically occur
within 90 minutes of ingestion.  We
describe a pediatric patient with an atypical and unusually delayed
presentation of camphor toxicity.

Case
Report: A 4-year-old female presented to the
emergency department (ED) via ambulance with altered mental status after a witnessed
postictal phase. The child had no history of seizures, no recent surgery or
trauma, and initial vitals and physical examination in the ED were normal. The
mother reported the child might have ingested an unknown quantity of Vicks®
VapoRub approximately 4+ hours prior to the apparent seizure and had been acting
normally at daycare in the interim. The girl was alert and maintained her
baseline neurologic function with no seizure activity for the duration of her
ED encounter, but three hours after ED arrival and seven hours after ingestion,
the child began vomiting, with Vicks® VapoRub evident in the emesis. She was
given oral ondansetron (Zofran®; GlaxoSmithKline, Middlesex, United Kingdom),
was able to per os challenge, and was
discharged.

Conclusion: This case illustrates the potential variability of
presentation in pediatric camphor toxicity, particularly the lack of
gastrointestinal upset as an initial symptom

Keywords

camphor toxicity, pediatric

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