Bug off! Severe toxicity following inhalational exposure to N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET)

Erica M Tavares; Bryan S Judge; J S Jones

doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2019.04.019

Bug off! Severe toxicity following inhalational exposure to N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET)

Am J Emerg Med. 2019 Jul;37(7):1395.e3-1395.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2019.04.019. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Authors

Erica M Tavares¹, Bryan S Judge¹, J S Jones²

Affiliations

¹ Spectrum Health - Michigan State University Emergency Medicine Residency Program, Grand Rapids, MI, United States of America.
² Spectrum Health - Michigan State University Emergency Medicine Residency Program, Grand Rapids, MI, United States of America. Electronic address: Jeffrey.Jones@spectrumhealth.org.

PMID: 31005398
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2019.04.019

Abstract

N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) is an insect repellent currently used by millions of people since 1956. DEET has an excellent safety profile and has remarkable protection against mosquitoes, ticks and various other arthropods. Toxicity is unusual, and is generally associated with incorrect, or overuse of the product. We report a patient with severe toxicity following inhalational exposure to a "bug bomb". containing 98% DEET.

Keywords: DEET; Inhalation exposure; Toxicity.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Aged
DEET / poisoning*
Humans
Inhalation Exposure / adverse effects*
Insect Repellents / poisoning*
Male

Substances

Insect Repellents
DEET