RESUMO
An 18-month-old infant required six hospital admissions in a period of six months for episodes consisting of coughing, respiratory depression, hematemesis, coma, dehydration, and lesions about the mouth. A negative history of ingestion of toxins was repeatedly obtained from the family and two home inspection by the local Health Department failed to identify potential toxins. Metabolic work-up was entirely negative. Utilizing methods of GC-MS, metabolites of a-terpineol were isolated from infant urine on two admissions to the hospital. These metabolites were confirmed by mass spectrometry to be the same metabolites excreted by Sprague-Dawley rats injected with a-terpineol or pine oil. The child had no additional episodes after physical separation from the home environment.