An investigation of recurrent pine oil poisoning in an infant by the use of gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric methods.
An 18-month-old infant required six hospital admissions in a period of six months for episodes consisting of coughing, respiratory depression, hematemesis, coma, dehydration, and lesions about the mouth. A negative history of ingestion of toxins was repeatedly obtained from the family and two home inspection by the local Health Department failed to identify potential toxins. Metabolic work-up was entirely negative. Utilizing methods of GC-MS, metabolites of a-terpineol were isolated from infant urine on two admissions to the hospital. These metabolites were confirmed by mass spectrometry to be the same metabolites excreted by Sprague-Dawley rats injected with a-terpineol or pine oil. The child had no additional episodes after physical separation from the home environment.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009821:Oils; D011041:Poisoning / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012825:Silicon / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013729:Terpenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000506:poisoning* / Q000652:urine; D014297:Trimethylsilyl Compounds / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000506:poisoning / Q000652:urine
D009821:Oils; D013729:Terpenes; D014297:Trimethylsilyl Compounds; D012825:Silicon