| Title: | Medical complications due to mothball abuse |
| Author(s): | Weintraub E; Gandhi D; Robinson C; |
| Address: | "Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore 21201, USA" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0038-4348 (Print) 0038-4348 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Inhalant abuse is a major public health problem that has been associated with numerous acute and chronic medical problems. Inhalants are defined as volatile organic substances and are found in common household and commercial products that are easily accessible, inexpensive, and legally obtained. We discuss a rare case of mothball abuse predominantly by inhalation. The patient had acute peripheral neuropathy and chronic renal failure, both of which were concluded to be casually related to mothball abuse. We briefly review the abuse potential and medical complications of naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene, the compounds in mothballs. Our case illustrates that common household products not usually identified as recreational drugs can be abused; furthermore, linking specific medical problems with particular inhalants can be difficult because of confounding variables" |
| Keywords: | "Chlorobenzenes/*poisoning Female *Household Products Humans *Inhalation Exposure Kidney Failure, Chronic/*chemically induced Middle Aged Naphthalenes/*poisoning Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/*chemically induced *Substance-Related Disorders;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineWeintraub, E Gandhi, D Robinson, C eng Case Reports 2000/05/08 South Med J. 2000 Apr; 93(4):427-9" |
