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[Potassium permanganate poisoning in infancy]
1Dept. of Pediatrics, Soroka Medical Center, Beer Sheba.
Insights
Accidental potassium permanganate ingestion in infants can cause oral burns and leukocytosis. Prompt management with water lavage and monitoring prevented severe complications in three infant girls.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Potassium permanganate is a strong oxidizing agent with potential toxicity.
- Accidental ingestion in infants is a rare but serious concern.
- Similar packaging of household products can lead to medication errors.
Observation:
- Three infant girls (2.5, 2.5, and 5 months) presented with potassium permanganate intoxication.
- Two cases resulted from mistaking the solution for vitamin A+D preparation due to similar packaging.
- Clinical symptoms included restlessness, low-grade fever, and oral mucosa inflammation with black-brown discoloration.
Findings:
- Leukocytosis with a left shift was observed in the affected infants.
- Severe complications like hepatic/renal damage, airway obstruction, GI ulceration, bleeding, methemoglobinemia, and hemolysis were notably absent.
- Management involved hemodynamic and respiratory monitoring, water lavage, and milk ingestion.
Implications:
- Early recognition and prompt, conservative management are crucial for favorable outcomes in pediatric potassium permanganate intoxication.
- The study highlights the importance of product packaging awareness to prevent accidental ingestions in infants.
- Absence of severe complications suggests that timely intervention can mitigate the risks associated with this poisoning.
Abstract:
Potassium permanganate intoxication in 3 infant girls (2.5, 2.5 and 5 months old, respectively) is described. In 2 the toxic solution was mistaken for a vitamin A+D preparation due to package similarity. The main clinical symptoms included restlessness, low grade fever and inflamed oral mucosa with black-brown discoloration. There was leukocytosis with a shift to the left. Complications described by others, such as hepatic and renal damage, upper air-way obstruction, gastrointestinal ulceration, bleeding tendency, methemoglobinemia and hemolysis, were not seen in our infants. Management included hemodynamic and respiratory monitoring, oral and gastric water lavage and milk ingestion. Laboratory follow-up included CBC and hepatic and renal function tests. There were no complications, and follow-up revealed no residual abnormalities.