Liquid Mosquito Repellent Ingestion in Children

Area of Science:

• Toxicology
• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Hydrocarbon poisoning in children is common, with kerosene historically prevalent in rural India.
• Liquid mosquito repellent ingestion is an emerging cause of hydrocarbon poisoning in urban settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the epidemiology, clinical presentation, management, and outcomes of children with accidental liquid mosquito repellent ingestion.
• To highlight the shift in poisoning agents from traditional kerosene to modern household products.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case series.
• Data collected over a 5-year period (January 2013 - December 2017).
• Inclusion criteria: children presenting to pediatric emergency with accidental liquid mosquito repellent ingestion.

Main Results:

• Twenty-three children (median age 24 months) presented a mean of 6 hours post-ingestion.
• 87% of cases occurred during summer months (March-June); all were from urban areas.
• 70% developed mild-moderate acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), requiring oxygen therapy for an average of 3.3 days. All but one survived.

Conclusions:

• Accidental ingestion of liquid mosquito repellents primarily causes aspiration pneumonitis due to hydrocarbon content, not neurological effects from pyrethroids.
• Prevention strategies must include child-proof containers, safe storage, regulatory oversight, and enhanced parental awareness.