Fatal hypernatremia from saltwater used as an emetic.
An adolescent boy returned home from a party and told his parents he may have taken some pills while there. He was given saltwater to drink, in an effort to induce emesis. He vomited numerous times, then seized. Hypernatremia (195 mmol/L) was diagnosed at the community hospital, and he was transferred to a pediatric intensive care facility. He suffered numerous complications and died from cerebral herniation. This case is presented to remind physicians of the dangers of this obsolete therapy.
Casavant
Marcel J
MJ
Central Ohio Poison Center, Columbus, Ohio 43205, USA. casavant@chi.osu.edu
Fitch
Jill A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D004639:Emetics / Q000506:poisoning*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D006955:Hypernatremia / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008588:Meningocele / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000506:poisoning*; D012996:Solutions
D004639:Emetics; D012996:Solutions; D012965:Sodium Chloride