3-year-old boy accidentally eats mothballs at home, beware of children accidentally eating mothballs

China Science and Technology News Network, January 4 (Xu Qiqi) According to Jiupai News, recently, a 3-year-old boy in Dezhou, Shandong accidentally ingested mothballs at home out of curiosity. After treatment by a doctor, the child is now fine.

Camphor balls have the functions of preventing insects, mildew and moths. They can be divided into natural camphor balls and synthetic camphor balls. Natural camphor balls are aromatic organic compounds extracted from the branches and leaves of camphor trees. They are colorless or white crystals that can float in water. Natural camphor balls are also called stinky beads. They are relatively less toxic and can also be used to make spices and medicines.

Synthetic mothballs are an organic compound containing naphthalene. These mothballs have a pungent smell and sink in water. Naphthalene and other ingredients in synthetic mothballs are hepatotoxic and hematotoxic. Naphthalene is on the list of Class 2B carcinogens published by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer. Long-term use of these mothballs may cause chronic poisoning.

News about children accidentally ingesting something is not uncommon. Many children do not have the ability to distinguish whether some chemicals or medicines are edible, or they eat things that may cause harm to their bodies out of curiosity.

In daily life, parents should clearly tell their children which foods may harm the body and keep them where children cannot easily reach them.

If you find your child vomiting, with burn marks on his lips, or unconscious, you should consider whether the child has accidentally ingested medicine or other chemicals. If it is confirmed that the child has accidentally ingested, you can let the child drink water and induce vomiting immediately.

But it should be noted that if a child accidentally ingests a strong acid or alkaline poison, vomiting should not be induced to avoid secondary damage to the child's digestive tract. If a child accidentally ingests a strong alkaline poison, you can drink some vinegar or lemon juice. If a child accidentally ingests a strong acid poison, you can drink soda water to neutralize the acid. Then send the child to the hospital for treatment as soon as possible.