Skip to content
2000
Volume 21, Issue 1
  • ISSN: 1389-2002
  • E-ISSN: 1875-5453

Abstract

Background: Naphthalene ingestion and skin or inhalational exposure (accidental or deliberate) is an under-recognized cause of a severe toxidrome in regions where it is commonly used (e.g., mothballs in households). Methods: This review is an update for the clinicians to understand the pharmacology, clinical features, laboratory evaluation, and treatment for naphthalene toxicity. High-quality literature for the past eight decades was collected and reviewed in this article. Several landmark articles were reviewed using PubMed, EMBASE Ovid, and the Cochrane Library, which have essential implications in the current toxicology practice. Results and Conclusion: Naphthalene toxicity usually occurs abruptly and leads to acute hemolysis, methemoglobinemia, renal failure, respiratory depression, and acute brain dysfunction that are difficult to manage. The toxicity is more marked in patients with G6PD deficiency and associated with high morbidity and mortality. The management should mainly focus on high-quality supportive care; however, severe methemoglobinemia (>20-30%) requires specific therapy with intravenous methylene blue. Methylene blue is a highly effective agent but contraindicated in severe G6PD deficiency.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/cdm/10.2174/1389200220666191122110036
2020-01-01
2025-06-25
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/content/journals/cdm/10.2174/1389200220666191122110036
Loading

  • Article Type:
    Review Article
Keyword(s): hemolysis; methemoglobinemia; methylene blue; mothball; Naphthalene; poisoning
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error
Please enter a valid_number test