Intoxication caused by ingestion of rape oil denatured with aniline

One hundred seventy children, 16 months to 14 years of age, were intoxicated by the ingestion of rape oil denatured with aniline. The most frequent findings were fever, itch, adenopathy, hepatomegaly, and varied exanthems. A few weeks after the onset of the disease, more than a third of the patients experienced a syndrome similar to scleroderma. After more than nine months, three patients were found to be seriously impaired. Two girls died of measles contracted during the course of the intoxication. Prednisone caused dramatic and rapid symptomatic relief.