A non-accidental poisoning with ammonia in adolescence

Introduction: Ammonia is an important chemical agent used in industry. Accidental inhalation of ammonia has resulted in upper airway and bronchoalveolar injury. If a large amount of ammonia is breathed, the agent can cause unconsciousness, shock and even death. Case: In this article, we report a case of non-accidental poisoning in adolescence. The patient was a 14-year-old boy and working as an apprentice at a workshop of a jeweller. He had drunk some amount of diluted ammonia by the force of another, 18-year-old, male apprentice. This patient presented with ammonia intoxication symptoms culminating in coma. Conclusions: We reported this case as an unusual ammonia poisoning seen in adolescence.