Ingestion of boric acid by infants

Boric acid solution was inadvertantly used to dilute concentrated formula and was fed to 24-day-old and 14-month-old siblings. Total amounts ingested were 2.6 g and 1.95 g, respectively. Symptoms of toxicity included irritability, diarrhea, and perineal erythema (in the younger child only). Peak boric acid levels were 147 micrograms/ml in the 24-day-old and 56 micrograms/ml in the 14-month-old. Peritoneal dialysis was utilized in the younger child, while the older child required only symptomatic care. Serum boric acid half-lives were approximately ten hours (24-day-old) and eight hours. Neither child developed severe toxicity; both were asymptomatic at one-month follow-up.