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Ingestion and aspiration of hot candle wax

Joshua You Jing Wong1, Varun Hathiramani2

  • 1Paediatric Surgery, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK joshua.wong@mft.nhs.uk.

BMJ Case Reports
|October 14, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Toddlers ingesting hot candle wax can develop airway obstruction and hydrocarbon pneumonitis. Early bronchoscopy and endoscopy are recommended to manage this rare but serious injury effectively.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Toxicology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Hot candle wax ingestion is a rare cause of pediatric airway compromise.
  • Limited literature exists on managing paraffin wax ingestion and potential hydrocarbon pneumonitis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe a case of toddler hot candle wax ingestion.
  • To highlight the diagnostic and management challenges.
  • To advocate for early endoscopic and bronchoscopic assessment.

Main Methods:

  • A toddler with hot candle wax ingestion underwent multidisciplinary team discussion.
  • Elective intubation was performed.
  • Bronchoscopy and endoscopy were utilized for diagnosis and removal of wax.

Main Results:

  • Superficial esophageal ulceration and gastric wax adherence were noted on endoscopy.
  • Thick wax casts obstructing the left lower lobe bronchus were found and removed via bronchoscopy.
  • The child recovered and was discharged on day 5.

Conclusions:

  • Early endoscopic and bronchoscopic assessment is crucial for managing pediatric candle wax ingestion.
  • This approach can prevent complications like hydrocarbon pneumonitis and airway obstruction.
  • Prompt intervention facilitates successful recovery.

Keywords:
Accidents, injuriesPaediatric Surgery

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