title: Ingestion of tea tree oil (Melaleuca oil) by a 4-year-old boy.
abstract: A 4-year-old boy ingested a small quantity of tea tree oil. Within 30 minutes, he became ataxic and shortly thereafter progressed to unresponsiveness; he was endotracheally intubated by paramedics. His neurologic status improved gradually over 10 hours, and he remains well on follow-up. Tea tree oil is an increasingly popular topical antiseptic that is available in a wide variety of products, often without warning labels. Healthcare providers should be aware of the common uses of tea tree oil, as well as its potential toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. morrisma@email.chop.edu
authors.forename: Marilyn C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Donoghue
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Markowitz
authors.forename: Kevin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Osterhoudt
mesh_terms: D000061:Accidents, Home; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003128:Coma / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003221:Confusion / Q000139:chemically induced; D003422:Critical Care; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy; D004630:Emergencies; D005751:Gastric Lavage; D006701:Home Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008297:Male; D008508:Medication Errors; D011041:Poisoning / Q000628:therapy; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D020947:Tea Tree Oil / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D020947:Tea Tree Oil