15-month-old boy hospitalized for emergency treatment for drinking essential oil to chase mosquitoes

Hanoi Children's Hospital has just received a case of a boy being treated for emergency care after drinking essential oils to chase mosquitoes.

Dr. Phi Van Cong, Department of Intensive Care, Hanoi Children's Hospital, said: The 15-month-old boy was transferred from the lower limb in a state of severe respiratory failure, had to be put in a ventilator and given immediate intensive treatment.

Before that, children had to drink the essential oil solution to repel mosquitoes. Through research, this essential oil is very popular, extracted from herbs but the solution contains some chemicals that are dangerous to human health when inhaled or taken directly.

According to the doctor, the child's condition progressed rapidly and seriously, the lung scan showed very serious damage, which could cause acute respiratory failure and potentially increase the risk of severe pulmonary fibrosis later.

The child had multiple seizures before being transferred to the hospital, fever and prolonged respiratory failure.

Although the child was given a ventilator to control breathing, support circulation and nerves, ensure vital signs such as pulse, blood pressure, breathing rate, SPO2, and seizures were well controlled... However, the disease is still very serious. Lung damage is at risk of deteriorating in the next 4872 hours.

Some chemicals in the solution of the mosquito repellent essential oil are extremely dangerous to drink. Children are particularly sensitive to these substances, which can lead to pneumonia, acute respiratory failure, seizures, and a permanent risk of pulmonary fibrosis.

Worryingly, many parents are still not fully aware of the harmful effects of letting mosquito repellent products be available to young children, the doctor warned.