Naphthalene poisoning

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Moth balls; Moth flakes; Camphor tar

Stomach problems may occur a day after exposure to the poison. They include:

• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

The patient may also have a fever. Over time, the following additional symptoms may occur:

• Coma
• Confusion
• Convulsions
• Drowsiness
• Headache
• Increased heart rate (tachycardia)
• Low blood pressure
• Low urine output (may stop completely)
• Pain when urinating (may be blood in the urine)
• Shortness of breath
• Yellowing of skin (jaundice)

NOTE: Persons with a condition called glucose-6-phosphate deficiency are more vulnerable to the effects of napthalene.

Review Date: 07/15/2009
Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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