title: Acute naphthalene poisoning following the non-accidental ingestion of mothballs.
abstract: Ingestional naphthalene mothball poisoning leading to prolonged haemolysis and methaemoglobinaemia can present with diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. A 19-year-old woman ingested 12 mothballs, and presented two days later with haemolysis and methaemoglobinaemia. She was treated with red blood cell transfusions, intravenous methylene blue, N-acetylcysteine and ascorbic acid. Continuous venovenous haemofiltration was conducted for 45 hours. Haemolysis with anaemia and methaemoglobinaemia persisted even after five days post-ingestion. Clinical and biochemical parameters improved. We describe a case of ingestional naphthalene poisoning with a good outcome after treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Changi General Hospital, 2 Simei Street 3, Singapore.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Poulose
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000743:Anemia, Hemolytic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D005260:Female; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D008708:Methemoglobinemia / Q000175:diagnosis; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000506:poisoning*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000628:therapy; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009281:Naphthalenes; C031721:naphthalene; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D008751:Methylene Blue; D000111:Acetylcysteine