Acute naphthalene toxicity presenting with metabolic acidosis: a rare complication

Abstract

Naphthalene moth ball poisoning in children can present with diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. A 2 year old boy who had accidentally consumed unknown number of moth balls presented 3 d later with vomiting, seizures, methemoglobinemia, hemolytic anemia and altered sensorium. He was managed with red blood cell transfusion, IV Methylene blue and Sodium bicarbonate. Clinical and laboratory parameters normalized. We describe this case as ingestional naphthalene poisoning with rare manifestation of metabolic acidosis, with a good outcome after treatment.

Keywords

• Naphthalene
• Methemoglobinemia
• Hemolytic anemia
• Metabolic acidosis
• Seizures