title: Severe camphor poisoning, a seven-year observational study.
abstract: In a retrospective case series from 2007 to 2014, we searched for any accidental/intentional, and recreational cases of pure camphor poisoning through hospital records. Epidemiological data, as well as factors correlated with seizure, were evaluated. Thirty cases including 29 males were recruited with a median age of 18 years (range; 0.2-87). Patient's reported ingestion rate of camphor was 1.5-15 grams. Almost all of the patients (96.7%) were conscious on arrival time and the ingestion to the presentation time ratio was 7±5h. It was observed that in a majority of the cases (53.4%), decreasing libido was the main intent of Camphor ingestion. Nausea and vomiting occurred in 22 (73.3%) cases and tonic-clonic seizure was seen in 12 (40%) patients. Mean presentation time was significantly longer in patients who experienced seizure (9.1±6.1h vs. 5.2±2.8h, p=0.05). No correlation was found between the amount of ingested camphor (grams or mg/kg) and vital signs along with the bio-chemistry results. Not only did all of our cases survive but also they exclusively received supportive care.
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Research Center, Department of Clinical Toxicology, Loghman-Hakim Hospital, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Excellence Center of Clinical Toxicology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iranian Ministry of Health, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mitra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahimi
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Research Center, Department of Clinical Toxicology, Loghman-Hakim Hospital, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shokri
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Research Center, Department of Clinical Toxicology, Loghman-Hakim Hospital, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Excellence Center of Clinical Toxicology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iranian Ministry of Health, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: hassanian@sbmu.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hassanian-Moghaddam
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Research Center, Department of Clinical Toxicology, Loghman-Hakim Hospital, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Excellence Center of Clinical Toxicology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iranian Ministry of Health, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Nasim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zamani
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Research Center, Department of Clinical Toxicology, Loghman-Hakim Hospital, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Excellence Center of Clinical Toxicology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iranian Ministry of Health, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Abdolkarim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pajoumand
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Research Center, Department of Clinical Toxicology, Loghman-Hakim Hospital, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Excellence Center of Clinical Toxicology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iranian Ministry of Health, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shadnia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001046:Aphrodisiacs / Q000506:poisoning*; D002164:Camphor / Q000506:poisoning*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001046:Aphrodisiacs; D002164:Camphor
keywords: Convulsion; Drug overdose; Libido; Seizure; Toxicity