Essential Oil Poisoning

Toddlers who swallow even small amounts of some Essential Oils can be seriously poisoned. The Ontario Poison Centre logged 251 ingestions by children aged 1–5 in 16 months (eucalyptus, camphorated oil, VapoRub, VapAir). 76 were sent to hospital and 2 had seizures. In the literature, 3–5 mL of pure eucalyptus oil has caused coma or seizures, and 5 mL of camphorated oil killed a child (Flaman 2001). US Poison Control adds camphor, wintergreen, sage and lavandin cases and advises locking away or discarding oils in homes with young children.

Connections

• Essential Oils — ingestion hazard in under-5s, source: Flaman 2001; Poison Control