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Case Reports
. 2016 May 25:2016:bcr2016215102.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2016-215102.

Naphthalene ball poisoning: a rare cause of acquired methaemoglobinaemia

Prateek Deo  1 , Kamal Kant Sahu  1 , Deba Prasad Dhibar  1 , Subhash Chander Varma  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Naphthalene ball poisoning: a rare cause of acquired methaemoglobinaemia

Prateek Deo et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

A 15-year-old boy presented to emergency services with accidental naphthalene ball ingestion. Following consumption he developed methaemoglobinaemia, massive intravascular haemolysis and acute kidney injury. He had no history suggestive of congenital haemoglobin M disease. Development of severe methaemoglobinaemia and intravascular haemolysis is quite unusual after consumption of a single ball of naphthalene. The patient was managed with ascorbic acid and intravenous N-acetyl cysteine. He also required haemodialysis for acute kidney injury that developed secondary to pigment nephropathy.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) Glass container showing cola coloured urine confirming haemoglobinuria. Bedside tests: (B) spot blot test and (C) tube test showing chocolate brown colour of the patient's blood compared with fresh red colour of a control sample.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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