Fatal Paint thinner ingestion-A case report

Abstract

Household poisons can cause serious damage to the health of children. Turpentine is a volatile hydrocarbon used in polishes, solvents, paints and textile industry. It is capable of causing serious toxicity, whether ingested or inhaled. When hydrocarbons are aspirated into the lung, they cause chemical pneumonitis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and rarely pneumatoceles and pneumothorax. We report a case of accidental ingestion of turpentine oil by a 13 year old female child brought to SAMC and PGI, Indore, leading to aspiration pneumonitis and ultimately causing death after 6 days of hospitalization.