THE RISK OF JAUNDICE IN GLUCOSE-6-PHOSPHATE DEHYDROGENASE DEFICIENT BABIES EXPOSED TO MENTHOL

Abstract. Olowe, S. A. and Ransome-Kuti, O. (Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria). The risk of jaundice in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase babies exposed to menthol. Acta Paediatr Scand, 69:341, 1980.—A major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in Lagos, Nigeria, is severe neonatal jaundice seen in G-6-PD deficient babies. The observation that the jaundice is more severe in outpatient than in inpatient babies suggests that its cause is exogenous. "Mentholated" powder which is commonly used in many clinics and at home to dress umbilical cords was suspected to be the offending agent. A controlled study of the effects of one of these powders was carried out on 60 consecutive G-6-PD deficient babies. In 30 of them the umbilical cords were dressed daily with the powder while the remaining half who were untreated served as controls. The treated babies developed statistically more significant jaundice than the controls. Inability of neonates to conjugate menthol in this power is probably responsible for the jaundice developed by these G-6-PD deficient babies. It is concluded that the use of menthol and/or camphor-containing commercial products on neonates be discontinued, especially in communities where the incidence of G-6-PD deficiency is high as the use of such products may be contributing to the severity of neonatal jaundice.