A 10-year-old girl from Caraș-Severin County, Romania, is in critical condition after her mother used a toxic veterinary substance to get rid of fleas in their home. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of using harmful chemicals and the importance of child safety.
Exposure to Toxic Substance
According to local media reports, the incident occurred on Thursday, May 23rd, in the village of Sadova Nouă. The girl's mother reportedly sprayed the toxic substance, normally used for washing sheep's wool, around the house to eliminate fleas.
Upon the girl's return from school, along with her 11-year-old brother and 15-year-old sister, the mother allegedly sprayed their clothes with the same substance.
Severe Reaction and Medical Intervention
The 10-year-old girl fell ill soon after, prompting her parents to call emergency services. The medical team that arrived at the family's home transported the girl to Caransebeș Municipal Hospital. Due to her critical condition and unconscious state, she was transferred to the Timișoara Children's Hospital, where she was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.
Medical Update and Treatment
"The girl's condition has improved. She arrived in an extremely serious state, with a very low score on the Glasgow Coma Scale," explained Dr. Mihai Gafencu, spokesperson for the Timișoara Children's Hospital. "She is currently better, but still showing signs of severity. I would like to emphasize the dangers of using extremely toxic substances that are exclusively for veterinary use, such as insecticides against animal parasites, which should never be used on human skin. These substances can be absorbed through the skin, and intoxication does not necessarily occur through ingestion."
Dr. Gafencu further stated that there are chances of survival for the girl. "There are chances of survival because this substance has a natural antidote called atropine," he explained. "And there are chances because the type of substance used on the girl in question, called diazinon, which we learned today, is a non-systemic organophosphate, meaning it has an action on the entire body. If it had been systemic, it would have affected the whole body. Now we have an explanation for the absence of some of the symptoms we expected. Hypersecretion of all mucous membranes - usually these children have hyperlacrimation, hypersalivation, cough, and respiratory problems caused by the respiratory mucous membranes.We did not see these in this child, and now we have the explanation: the organophosphate was not systemic."
Dr. Gafencu also mentioned that the 10-year-old girl from Caraș-Severin is still in a coma.
"In the last three cases we have dealt with, these substances were used by the children's grandparents or parents to clean them of certain parasites," he added. "The girl is in a coma. We have no other siblings in the hospital. The girl's symptoms were the most serious. She arrived in a coma," Gafencu concluded.
A Call for Awareness and Prevention
This tragic incident highlights the importance of child safety and the need for parents to exercise extreme caution when using any chemicals or substances. It is crucial to follow safety guidelines and seek professional advice when dealing with potential pest control issues. Children's health and well-being should always be the top priority.
Source: Ziare.com
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