A Boy Drank His Mom's Essential Oils. This Is What Happened To His Brain.

Summary

In this video, Dr. Bernard narrates the alarming case of a 3-year-old boy, BB, who accidentally consumed his mother's wintergreen essential oil, leading to severe salicylate poisoning. The boy exhibited symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and rapid breathing. The video explains the science behind salicylate's impact on the body, including acidosis and mitochondrial dysfunction, and how medical intervention with bicarbonate helped in BB's recovery. The incident serves as a cautionary tale about the potential dangers of essential oils and the importance of safety measures.

Takeaways

• 🌿 Essential oils can be potent and potentially dangerous if ingested, as demonstrated by a case of a 3-year-old boy who accidentally drank his mother's essential oils.
• 👩‍⚕️ The boy, BB, presented to the emergency room with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and rapid breathing, which are indicative of a serious medical condition.
• 🧪 A blood test revealed low bicarbonate levels in BB's blood, pointing to acidosis, a condition where there is an excess of acid in the body.
• 🔬 The active ingredient in the ingested wintergreen oil, methyl salicylate, is similar to aspirin and can be toxic in large quantities when ingested.
• 🏥 Medical intervention was critical to correct the acid-base imbalance in BB's body by administering bicarbonate to counteract the acidosis.
• 🧠 The salicylate toxicity affected BB's brain function, causing him to become unconscious, highlighting the importance of rapid medical response.
• 💊 The high concentration of salicylate in the oil BB ingested is equivalent to dozens of aspirin tablets, illustrating the potency of essential oils.
• 🔄 The body's natural response to acidosis is to increase breathing rate in an attempt to expel excess carbon dioxide and restore酸碱平衡.
• 🛑 The mother's decision to change the safety caps on the essential oil bottles due to her arthritis pain inadvertently put her son at risk.
• ⚠️ The case serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of keeping essential oils and other potentially harmful substances out of reach of children.

Q & A

What was the initial condition that led to BB's mother using essential oils?

BB's mother, Megan, started experiencing pain in her arms, legs, shoulders, and hips, with swollen hands, which she suspected might be arthritis.

Why did Megan decide to use wintergreen oil for her arthritis?

Megan chose wintergreen oil because it contains methyl salicylate, which is known for its pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, similar to aspirin.

What was the reason Megan changed the caps on her essential oil bottles?

Megan changed the caps to ones without child safety features because her arthritis caused her so much pain that she couldn't exert the force needed to push down on the child safety caps.

How did BB accidentally consume the wintergreen oil?

BB consumed the wintergreen oil when Megan left her oils out on a table while she took a phone call from her boss, and BB accessed the bottles with the non-childproof caps.

What symptoms did BB exhibit after ingesting the essential oils?

BB showed symptoms of nausea, vomiting, tachypnea (fast breathing), lethargy, and eventually unconsciousness.

What does a low bicarbonate level in the blood indicate?

A low bicarbonate level indicates acidosis, which means there is an excess of acid in the blood.

How does salicylate from wintergreen oil cause harm when ingested?

Ingested salicylate converts to salicylic acid in the body, which is toxic. It disrupts the mitochondria's ability to produce ATP, leading to acidosis, hyperthermia, and organ damage.

What is the role of bicarbonate in treating BB's condition?

Bicarbonate is used to counteract the acidosis by increasing the base in the blood, which helps to neutralize the excess acid and prevent salicylate from converting to the harmful salicylic acid.

How did the medical team attempt to eliminate the salicylate from BB's body?

The medical team forced base into BB's urine to help his kidneys filter and concentrate the salicylate, allowing it to be eliminated through urine.

What was the final outcome for BB after the treatment?

BB made a full recovery after several days in the hospital, thanks to the medical team's prompt intervention and treatment.

What lesson did Megan learn from this incident?

Megan learned the importance of taking great caution to never expose her son to any potential household dangers, emphasizing the need for childproof safety measures.