Abstract

In this issue of the Southern Medical Journal, Ragucci et al¹ describe camphor poisoning in a 10-year-old male who presented to the emergency department. For centuries, camphor has been used as an antiseptic, antipruritic, rubefacient, abortifacient, contraceptive, lactation suppressant and aphrodisiac.² The strong aroma associated with camphor has attracted its use in many oils, inhalants and ointments, especially as a remedy for the common cold. It is a component of many preparations available over the counter and has a potential for accidental ingestion by children and infants. The United States Food and Drug Administration in 1983 restricted the use and availability of products containing camphor in a concentration over 11%.² However, in most countries, oils and medicaments containing as high as 20% camphor are easily available. In the Indian subcontinent, camphor is an ingredient for many oils and in its solidified form is commonly used in almost all religious events and prayers. In developing countries, compounds do not mention the concentration of camphor as an ingredient. Despite common household usage, camphor poisoning remains a rarely encountered problem in the emergency departments of public hospitals in developing countries, probably because of subclinical effects encountered after ingestion in most patients.