Moth repellent

Home treatment:

for naphthalene:
Standard procedure is to induce emesis (vomiting) unless the patient is unconscious or experiencing convulsions. Before inducing emesis, contact Poison Control for verification.

If instructed to induce emesis, standard procedure is as follows:
Give the usual dose of ipecac syrup: 15 ml (1 TABLEspoonful) for children and 30 ml (2 TABLEspoonsful) for an adult. Follow with 1/2 glass (4 oz.) of water for children or 8 to 12 oz. of water for adults. Repeat 1 more time in 1/2 hour if emesis has not occurred.

for kerosene:
Call Poison Control. DO NOT INDUCE EMESIS (VOMITING) UNLESS INSTRUCTED TO DO SO. If the person is conscious, give a small amount of fluid (milk or water) to stop local irritation and burning of the mouth and throat.

Before calling emergency:

Determine the following information:

• the patient's age, weight, and condition
• the name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
• the time it was swallowed
• the amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number:

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room:

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

• for naphthalene
  • Induce emesis.(This should only be done by a health care provider to prevent any poison from getting into the lungs while the patient is vomiting).
  • Use gastric lavage.
  • Treat the symptoms.

• for kerosene
  • Induce emesis (This should only be done by a health care provider to prevent any poison from getting into the lungs while the patient is vomiting).
  • Administer activated charcoal.
  • Use gastric lavage.
  • Administer a cathartic (a bowel evacuator).
  • Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis):

for naphthalene:
If there is a rapid deterioration of the patient's condition, progressing to convulsions and coma, the outlook for recovery is poor. If recovery occurs, it may take several weeks or longer to overcome some of the toxic effects.

for kerosene:
If the patient survives the first 24 hours, the amount of damage to the lungs dictates the length of recovery.