Citation

Ahmad R, Amir SH, Khan SA. J. Emerg. Med. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh, India.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jemermed.2019.09.047

PMID

31744706

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Naphthalene is widely used in households as an insect repellent, but its poisoning is rare, especially in adults. Naphthalene is a strong oxidant with a pungent smell. CASE REPORT: We report a case of a 16-year-old female who ingested three naphthalene mothballs 3 days prior to admission and presented with history of recurrent vomiting, severe pallor, jaundice, and hemoglobinuria. Investigation found severe hemolytic anemia, indirect hyperbilirubinemia, acute kidney injury, and evidence of intravascular hemolysis. Her urine output was normal throughout the course of illness. She was managed conservatively with i.v. fluid, oral ascorbic acid, and blood transfusion. With treatment our patient improved completely and was discharged in hemodynamically stable condition. She is doing fine after further follow-up. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Emergency physician should keep the possibility of poisoning by an oxidizing agent, such as naphthalene, when a patient presents to the emergency department with rapid onset pallor, jaundice, and hemoglobinuria.

Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

AKI; hemoglobinuria; intravascular hemolysis; naphthalene poisoning