A FIVE-year-old girl has died and her toddler brother is fighting for life after their mum rubbed a toxic agricultural pesticide into their scalps to treat their nits.
The two children were rushed to hospital after developing severe symptoms of poisoning but Ashley Sofia dos Reis Sousa, 5, tragically died a short time later.
Medical staff sounded the alarm after growing suspicious that the kids had been exposed to a toxic substance.
Their 30-year-old mother was taken in for questioning and subsequently released on bail.
She admitted to police that she had applied an insecticide called Diazinon 40 PM to both children’s heads on Sunday to treat lice – a remedy she had used before.
According to her account, the siblings were sitting outside their home in Matutina, south-eastern , shortly after the application when they began feeling seriously unwell.
Realising something was wrong, the mother scooped up both children and rushed them to hospital.
Although Ashley tragically died, her two-year-old brother was stabilised before being transferred to a hospital in Patos de Minas in a serious condition for specialist treatment.
Upon searching the family home, cops located a container holding the remaining agricultural insecticide which was seized and sent for forensic examination.
Ashley’s body was taken to the Institute of Legal Medicine in Patos de Minas for examination.
An update on the toddler’s conditions is yet to be released.
Minas Gerais Civil Police said the mum remains under investigation and said further inquiries would be carried out to establish the circumstances of the incident.
Diazinon is a highly toxic agricultural insecticide used to control pests.
It is not intended for treating head lice in humans and can cause serious poisoning.
Following her tragic death, Ashley’s nursery announced they would suspend all activities on Monday as a mark of respect for their late pupil.
The school said the young girl would be remembered for her “enchanting smile”, kindness and the happiness she brought to those around her.
The early childhood centre said: “She was a very dear child to all of us, not only to the teachers who were closest to her, but to everyone who was part of our Early Childhood Education Center’s routine.
“Ashley won everyone over and left a little bit of herself in each heart.
” Today we say goodbye with tears in our eyes, but with hearts full of love and gratitude for you having been a part of our story.”
Her death comes following a suspected poisoning case in which twin
Linda Rosa and Laura Maria García Hortua, 33, died just minutes apart after being rushed to hospital in a critical condition on Saturday.
The half-eaten bar of soap, discovered by baffled at the sisters’ home in Medellín, , is crucial focus in the into their deaths.
