A child presents with tachypnea, tachycardia, and drooling after ingesting the sweet smelling contents of the pictured household item. What toxin could explain this presentation?
- Camphor
- Eucalyptus oil
- Menthol
- Methyl salicylate/Oil of Wintergreen
This post has been peer-reviewed on behalf of ACMT by Bryan Judge, David Juurlink, and Louise Kao.
References
- Shirreff WT & Pearlman LN. Oil of Wintergreen Poisoning : (Report of Two Additional Fatal Cases). Canadian Medical Association journal 20321829
- Lugassy DM. Salicylates. In: Goldfranks Toxicologic Emergencies 11th Edition; Eds Nelson L Howland MA Lewin NA et al. McGraw Hill, New York, NY, 2019
- Chan TYK. Review: Potential Dangers from Topical Preparations Containing Methyl Salicylate. Human & Experimental Toxicology, vol. 15, no. 9, Sept. 1996, pp. 747–750, doi:10.1177/096032719601500905. PMID: 8880210
- Michael JB & Sztajnkrycer MD. Deadly Pediatric Poisons: Nine Common Agents That Kill At Low Doses. Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America, vol. 22, no. 4, 2004, pp. 1019-1050., doi:10.1016/j.emc.2004.05.004. PMID: 15474780
- Crossland AM. Methyl salicylate poisoning. Canadian Medical Association Journal vol. 58,1 (1948): 75-7. PMID: 18935606
- Macpherson CR et al. The excretion of salicylate. British journal of pharmacology and chemotherapy vol. 10,4 (1955): 484-9. doi:10.1111/j.1476-5381.1955.tb00109.x PMID: 13276608
- Kuzak N, Brubacher JR, & Kennedy JR. Reversal of saliycate –induced euglycemic delirium with dextrose. Clinical Toxicology. 45:5; 526-529. PMID 17503260
- Juurlink DN, et al. Extracorporeal Treatment for Salicylate Poisoning: Systematic Review and Recommendations From the EXTRIP Workgroup. Annals of Emergency Medicine, Mosby, 15 May 2015, www.annemergmed.com/article/S0196-0644(15)00285-1/fulltext. PMID: 25986310
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