Six-Year-Old Saved After Accidentally Drinking Paint Thinner in Ashdod Home

A six-and-a-half-year-old boy from Ashdod was saved after accidentally drinking paint thinner that workers had transferred into a water bottle during home renovations. The bottle had a pop-top cap, which masked the chemical's strong smell, leading the child to believe it was regular water. Shortly after ingestion, the boy experienced severe throat burning, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing. He was rushed to the pediatric emergency room at Assuta Ashdod Public Hospital, where rapid diagnosis and treatment were initiated.

Specialists in pediatric gastroenterology and ENT, including Dr. Eitan Damari, deputy head of the pediatric department, quickly assessed the boy and developed an immediate treatment plan. After stabilizing his condition, he was moved to the pediatric intensive care unit led by Dr. Noa Rosenfeld Yehoshua. The child's condition improved significantly, and he is expected to be discharged home in the coming days.

The boy's mother recounted the frightening incident, explaining that the workers had transferred the paint thinner into a water bottle, leading to the accidental poisoning. Dr. Noa Rosenfeld Yehoshua emphasized the danger of such poisonings, noting that the lack of the chemical's usual strong odor due to the pop-top cap made this case particularly rare. Dr. Hagar Gur Suferman, head of the pediatric emergency room, highlighted that many child poisonings could be prevented if hazardous substances were not stored in drinking containers, calling it a dangerous trap for children.