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Medical complications due to mothball abuse
E Weintraub1, D Gandhi, C Robinson
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore 21201, USA.
Southern Medical Journal
|May 8, 2000
Summary
Inhalant abuse, often involving household products like mothballs, can lead to severe health issues such as neuropathy and kidney failure. This case highlights the dangers of abusing accessible volatile organic substances.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Public Health
- Neurology
Background:
- Inhalant abuse is a significant public health concern, involving volatile organic substances found in common products.
- These substances are easily accessible, inexpensive, and legally obtained, contributing to their widespread abuse potential.
Observation:
- This report details a rare case of mothball abuse primarily through inhalation.
- The patient presented with acute peripheral neuropathy and chronic renal failure.
Findings:
- Both acute peripheral neuropathy and chronic renal failure were causally linked to mothball abuse.
- Naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene, the primary compounds in mothballs, were reviewed for their abuse potential and associated medical complications.
Implications:
- This case underscores that common household items, not typically recognized as recreational drugs, can be subject to abuse.
- Establishing direct links between specific medical problems and inhalant abuse can be challenging due to confounding variables.