Toddler with seizures due to ingesting camphor at an Indian celebration.
We report a 3-year-old girl who presented to the emergency department with seizures. Earlier in the evening, the patient was with her parents at an Indian celebration where she vomited once and then became hyperactive. Fifteen minutes later, she became unresponsive and had an episode characterized by eye blinking, teeth grinding, and posturing that lasted 2 to 3 minutes. To our knowledge, this is the first report of seizure after ingestion of ceremonial camphor tablets at an Indian ceremony. Given the inadequate packaging and use of many grams of camphor at these ceremonies, the pediatric population specifically is at risk for camphor toxicity from this source. Health care professionals should be aware of this unique and culturally specific source of potential camphor toxicity.
Michiels
Erica A
EA
Division of Emergency Medicine, Seattle Children's Hospital, 4800 Sand PointWay NE B5520, Seattle,WA 98105, USA.
Mazor
Suzan S
SS
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000506:poisoning; D002164:Camphor / Q000506:poisoning*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D013607:Tablets
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D013607:Tablets; D002164:Camphor