Subject(s)
Antidotes/administration & dosage , Charcoal/administration & dosage , Electroencephalography , Eucalyptus/poisoning , Hypertension/chemically induced , Plant Oils/poisoning , Suicide, Attempted , Adult , Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation/therapeutic use , Citalopram/therapeutic use , Coma , Drug Overdose , Female , Glasgow Coma Scale , Humans , Lactic Acid/metabolism , Treatment OutcomeSubject(s)
Central Nervous System Diseases/drug therapy , Eucalyptus/poisoning , Naloxone/therapeutic use , Plant Oils/poisoning , Aged , Central Nervous System Diseases/chemically induced , Central Nervous System Diseases/diagnosis , Eucalyptus/chemistry , Female , Humans , Injections, Intravenous , Plant Oils/isolation & purification , Plant Oils/therapeutic use , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Eucalyptus oil (EO) intoxications are rare. We present a case of 58 yrs old chemist, who due to intense delusions consumed 4-5 drops of concentrated EO in order to self-medication of ascariasis. Despite the low dose of ingested xenobiotic the course of poisoning was severe. The intoxication was complicated with acute lung and heart injury, tachycardia and hypertension. Most of the clinical symptoms and biochemical abnormalities disappeared after the treatment.
Subject(s)
Acute Lung Injury/chemically induced , Eucalyptus/poisoning , Plant Oils/poisoning , Plants, Medicinal/poisoning , Self Medication/adverse effects , Tachycardia/chemically induced , Ascariasis/drug therapy , Drug Overdose , Humans , Hypertension/chemically induced , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Seven common marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus) from a laboratory colony of 17 died over a period of eight months. Death of six of these monkeys was attributed to kidney failure from an oxalate-induced nephropathy. The epidemiology of this outbreak suggested an exogenous source and there was strong evidence that the source was bark and leaves from an Eucalyptus viminalis tree. Branches of this tree were introduced one month before the first death. The branches were removed one month after deaths commenced, but deaths continued for another five months. Urinalysis of all surviving marmosets at 80 and 122 days after initial contact with the E viminalis branches suggested that these monkeys had renal impairment. In the cases described here, the eating behaviour of common marmosets apparently exposed the animals to toxic levels of oxalate in the bark and leaves of an E viminalis tree.
Subject(s)
Callithrix , Eucalyptus/poisoning , Kidney Calculi/veterinary , Kidney Diseases/veterinary , Monkey Diseases/etiology , Plant Poisoning/veterinary , Animal Husbandry , Animals , Animals, Laboratory , Fatal Outcome , Female , Kidney Calculi/diagnosis , Kidney Calculi/etiology , Kidney Diseases/diagnosis , Kidney Diseases/etiology , Male , Monkey Diseases/diagnosis , Oxalates/analysis , Oxalates/metabolism , Plant Poisoning/diagnosisABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of fatal mouthwash ingestion and review possible sources of toxicity. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Veterans Administration Medical Center. PATIENT: Single patient with massive mouthwash ingestion. MAIN RESULTS: This patient was a 45-year-old man who developed cardiovascular collapse and multiorgan system failure following a massive ingestion of mouthwash (almost 3 liters). His presentation was remarkable for a profound anion-gap metabolic acidosis and a significant osmolar gap. No other co-ingestants were identified, and he expired despite full supportive care including dialysis and mechanical ventilation. An autopsy failed to identify any other cause of death. Nonalcoholic ingredients of this mouthwash are phenolic compounds (eucalyptol, menthol, and thymol), and large-volume mouthwash ingestion will produce exposure in the reported toxic range of these ingredients. CONCLUSIONS: When ingested in large quantities, the phenolic compounds in mouthwash may contribute to a severe anion-gap metabolic acidosis and osmolar gap, multiorgan system failure, and death. These compounds, in addition to alcohol, may account for the adverse effects associated with massive mouthwash ingestion.
Subject(s)
Acidosis/chemically induced , Mouthwashes/poisoning , Multiple Organ Failure/chemically induced , Phenols/poisoning , Salicylates/poisoning , Terpenes/poisoning , Acidosis/diagnosis , Acidosis/therapy , Alcoholism/complications , Anti-Infective Agents, Local/poisoning , Autopsy , Cause of Death , Critical Care/methods , Drug Combinations , Drug Overdose , Eucalyptus/poisoning , Fatal Outcome , Fixatives/poisoning , Humans , Male , Menthol/poisoning , Middle Aged , Mouthwashes/chemistry , Multiple Organ Failure/diagnosis , Multiple Organ Failure/therapy , Renal Dialysis , Respiration, Artificial , Risk Factors , Salicylates/chemistry , Severity of Illness Index , Terpenes/chemistry , Thymol/poisoningABSTRACT
Eucalyptus oil is well documented as being extremely toxic if ingested. We report a case of systemic eucalyptus oil toxicity from topical application. A 6-year-old girl presented with slurred speech, ataxia and muscle weakness progressing to unconsciousness following the widespread application of a home remedy for urticaria containing eucalyptus oil. Six hours following removal of the topical preparation her symptoms had resolved, with no long term sequelae.
