Delhi: Baby accidentally consumes mosquito-repellent liquid, makes remarkable recovery

A 19-month-old child in Delhi has made a near-miraculous recovery after accidentally ingesting a significant amount of mosquito-repellent liquid, leading to critical health complications. The child was admitted to a private hospital in extremely serious condition, with suspected aspiration of the liquid into the lungs.

According to the family, the toddler consumed nearly the entire contents of a newly opened refill bottle. This led to a cascade of severe medical issues, including chemical pneumonitis, aspiration pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), shock, acute kidney injury, and multi-organ dysfunction. The child required extensive care in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), including advanced ventilation and circulatory support.

Despite prolonged periods of dangerously low oxygen levels and concerns about irreversible lung damage, the medical team, led by Dr. Dhiren Gupta, implemented aggressive, multidisciplinary intensive care. Advanced rescue strategies and innovative supportive measures, such as nebulized iloprost to improve oxygenation, were employed. The child's condition gradually improved under this intensive treatment.

Dr. Gupta highlighted that the child's neurological recovery was particularly remarkable, given the severity of the oxygen deprivation. The toddler was discharged in a stable condition, a testament to the PICU team's efforts, specialist support, dedicated nursing care, and the family's unwavering trust during a critical time. The incident serves as a stark reminder to ensure such products are stored securely and checked for potential hazards before use.

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This child came to us in an extremely critical condition after accidental ingestion and aspiration of mosquito-repellent liquid from a newly opened refill bottle. At one stage, intact survival appeared very difficult. The oxygen levels remained very poor for a prolonged time, and there was concern that irreversible lung damage could develop. With continuous PICU care, advanced ventilation, rescue therapies including nebulised iloprost, and the family's trust, the child made a remarkable recovery and is neurologically intact.