Accidental pure essential tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) administration in two infants
M.ª Teresa Leonardo Cabelloa, José Lorenzo Guerra Díezb, Lucía Fernández Calderónb, Cristina López Fernándeza
aServicio de Pediatría. Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla. Santander. España.
bUnidad de Urgencias de Pediatría. Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla. Santander. España.
Correspondence: MT Leonardo. E-mail: maiteleonardo@hotmail.com
Reference of this article: Leonardo Cabello MT, Guerra Díez JL, Fernández Calderón L, López Fernández C. Accidental pure essential tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) administration in two infants. Rev Pediatr Aten Primaria. 2016;18:e125-e128.
Published in Internet: 13-06-2016 - Visits: 106039
Abstract
Tea tree oil is an essential oil obtained by steam distillation of the leaves and terminal branches of Melaleuca alternifolia. In recent years, it has become popular as an antimicrobial agent against a large number of diseases.
It is a natural substance that has a potential toxic effect especially if ingested.
We report two cases of infants who came to our Emergency Department because they were accidentally given tea tree oil. In both cases parents mistook the tea tree oil bottle with the D vitamin bottle.
The care of these patients led us to perform a literature search of published cases of tea tree oil poisoning and highlight the absence of safety warnings on tea tree oil packages currently marketed in our country.
Keywords
● Intoxication ● Melaleuca alternifolia ● Tea tree oil
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