Study of Demographic and Clinical Profile of Children with Indigenous Camphor Exposure Presenting at A Tertiary Care Centre

Jayakanthan S, Manimaran R, Sathyanarayanan M, Bharathi Raja K

Camphor poisoning should be considered as a cause of seizure in otherwise healthy children and parents should be asked regarding possible ingestion of camphor products in the preceding few hours.

Abstract

Background: Small children have a tendency to put everything in the mouth; hence, poisoning due to accidental ingestion of commonly available household toxic substances is quite common in infants and small children. The aim of this retrospective study was to describe the demographic and clinical profile of children treated following exposure to camphor. Methods: A Retrospective descriptive study of children admitted with camphor poisoning from June 2018 to January 2020. The collected data were entered into a tabulated form, and descriptive statistical methods were used. Results: Of the 60 children studied, Male infants and toddlers were the most common victims of camphor induced illness. Oral route was the most common mode of exposure. The most common presenting symptom was symptomatic seizures of the generalised tonic clonic type (91.8%) followed by vomiting and fever. Most patients had seizure onset within 30 minutes of exposure that lasted for 5 to 10 minutes. 39% of those treated, required only a Benzodiazepines. Conclusion: Camphor causes neurological symptoms in young children and history of camphor exposure needs to be excluded in all cases of seizures. Ironically, most of them have not required long term AEDs on follow up. Neuroimaging done has no added benefit in prognosticating long term outcome in such children.

Key Words: Camphor poisoning, seizures

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