Is Accidental Ingestion Of Liquid Mosquito Repellent By A Child Fatal?

Posted on Sun, 22 Nov 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 22 Nov 2015 Answered on

Mon, 14 Dec 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi doctor my daughter is 2yrs old I guess she has drunk a little bit of mosquito cartridge liquid and I gave her immediately salt water ....am worried plz can u rply me

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Visit the ER without delay

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

Mosquito repellants usually contain allethrin or prallethrin which are neurotoxins. You should therefore visit the emergency dept. of any hospital without delay.

The following links should be useful for you:
http://www.xxxxxxxxx.org/xxxxxx_xxxxxxx.xxxx?xxxx_Id=PC35755
www.who.int/xxxxxx/xxxxxxx/en/xxxxxxxxx_spec_eval_Nov_2004.pdf

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (1 hour later)

Thank u for ur respond......she just licked the cartridge stick of the liquid .....can u please tell me the symptoms and within how many hours will the symptoms start.......

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (9 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Monitoring is advisable

Detailed Answer:
Toxicity symptoms:
- Irritability to sound or touch, abnormal facial sensation, sensation of prickling, tingling or creeping on skin, numbness.
- Headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive salivation, fatigue.
- In severe cases: fluid in the lungs and muscle twitching may develop. Seizures may also occur.

There is no definite timeline for the symptoms but most often they are seen in the first few days, if they are to occur.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar