CAMPHORA - WARNING

23.01.08, 17:56
NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE

Thomas R. Frieden, MD, MPH

Commissioner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, January 17, 2008

(212) 788-5290

HEALTH DEPARTMENT WARNS PARENTS TO KEEP CAMPHOR PRODUCTS AWAY FROM
CHILDREN

NEW YORK CITY - January 17, 2008 - The Health Department today
warned
New York City parents and caregivers to keep products containing
camphor away from children. Some camphor products can be toxic to
children when accidentally ingested or excessively applied to skin.
Three recent cases of seizures associated with camphor have been
confirmed in the Bronx. All three children have recovered. The
Health
Department is investigating seven additional cases suspected to be
associated with camphor.

Camphor, alconfor in Spanish, is a common ingredient in many
products
used for colds, pest control, to ward off illness, or as air
freshener. Camphor is sold in cubes (pictured below), or as a balm
or
ointment. Camphor cubes and tablets are not approved by the FDA for
use as cough or cold medicine. Camphor products that are not labeled
with ingredients and do not have manufacturer information should not
be used; they are unsafe and illegal. Legal camphor products, such
as
some chest rubs used to relieve congestion, should only be used as
directed on the label. Camphor products are sold in botanicas,
pharmacies, discount stores, among other types of New York City
stores.

"Camphor products can be very dangerous for children," said Nancy
Clark, Assistant Commissioner for Environmental Disease
Prevention. "Be sure to keep these products away from them.
Swallowing camphor or applying it in large amounts to a child can
cause seizures. If you think your child may have been poisoned, call
the Poison Control Center at (212) POISONS."

The main symptoms of camphor poisoning in children include
stomachache, nausea, vomiting, irritability, agitation, and
seizures.
Symptoms may occur very quickly after exposure
    • beatamc Re: CAMPHORA - WARNING 23.01.08, 19:38
      Wystarczy napisac: nie dawac dzieciom jesc i nie smarowac co
      godzine jak balsamem po kompieli.
      Potem przez takie niedoswiadczone, moze nastoletnie mamusie
      wszystkie leki wycofuja z aptek.
      • marcysiaw1 Re: CAMPHORA - WARNING 23.01.08, 21:51
        zgadzam sie z Beata! Pracowalam u Amerykanow, ktorzy mieli dzieci i
        ponad polowa z tych mam na byle co dawala dzieciom Tylenol badz
        Motrin bo na przyklad dziecko glowka boli! A skad mozna wiedziec, ze
        dziecko boli glowa? A moze mu po porstu nudno i jest dlatego
        markotne! Matko kochana a teraz pisza, ze to problem bo odnotowano
        iles tam przypadkow zgonow od przedawkowania! Ale proste jest, ze
        dziecko samo sobie tego wzielo, nie? Podobnie wlasnie z tym
        artykulem1
        Pozdrawiam
        marta
        • edytkus Re: CAMPHORA - WARNING 24.01.08, 15:46
          marcysiaw1 napisała:

          > zgadzam sie z Beata

          ja niby tez, ale wielu i tak nie chcialoby sie przeczytac

          >Ale proste jest, ze
          > dziecko samo sobie tego wzielo, nie?


          a moje kiedys wzielo - jak mialo dwa czy trzy lata - Peptobismol dla
          dzieci w tabletkach, ktory stal zakrecony na najwyzszej polce (ja
          sama nie siegne bez krzesla). Na szczescie zdazyla polknac tylko
          jedna albo dwie, nie pamietam juz. W kazdym razie nr telefonu do
          poison center mam odtad na stale przyklejony w szafce z lekami.
          • beatamc Re: CAMPHORA - WARNING 24.01.08, 18:50
            nauczylam swoja mala jak miala 9mies, zeby trzymala sie z dala od
            schodow. Narazie dziala. Ciekawe czy, jak bedzie miala 2 lata bede w
            stanie ja nauczyc , zeby nie wyciagala lekarstw z najwyzszych polek?
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