Severe poisoning after accidental pediatric ingestion of glycol ethers.

Abstract

Human glycol ether poisonings are sparsely reported in the medical literature. We describe a healthy 22-month-old boy who accidentally drank up to 330 mL of brake fluid containing a 75% bleed of various glycol ethers (5%-50% polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether, 15%-40% triethylene glycol monoethyl ether, 1%-30% triethylene glycol monomethyl ether, 1%-25% triethylene glycol monobutyl ether, 1%-20% polyethylene glycol, monobutyl ether, 1%-20% triethylene glycol, and <10% of other glycol ethers). Within 4 hours, he became somnolent and developed a persistent metabolic acidosis. Thirty minutes later, he received 1 dose of fomepizole. Neither progression nor improvement in clinical or metabolic status was noted after the fomepizole. He received hemodialysis for 3 hours ∼8 hours after ingestion, and his symptoms resolved resulting in an uneventfully recovery.

• Authors: George S Wang, Shan Yin, Brian Shear, Kennon Heard
• Journal: Pediatrics (Pediatrics) Vol. 130 Issue 4 Pg. e1026-9 (Oct 2012) ISSN: 1098-4275 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23008459 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Ethers
• Polyethylene Glycols

Topics

• Ethers (poisoning)
• Humans
• Infant
• Male
• Poisoning (diagnosis, therapy)
• Polyethylene Glycols (poisoning)