title: Salicylate intoxication using a skin ointment.
abstract: Acute percutaneous salicylate intoxication is a rare event in children but can happen with a skin disease where salicylic acid, used as a keratolytic ointment, can be absorbed transcutaneously. Until now, few cases of transcutaneous salicylate intoxication have been reported in the literature. Our case report is about a 5-year-old girl with lamellar ichthyosis and an acute salicylate transcutaneous intoxication after the application of a skin ointment. The child had a fever, hyperpnoea with respiratory alkalosis, comatose state and oculogyric crisis. We would like to emphasize the danger of applying salicylic acid in children with extensive skin diseases and, therefore, it is advisable to measure the plasma salicylic levels so as to prevent eventual salicylate toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Catholic University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiaretti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schembri Wismayer
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tortorolo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piastra
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Polidori
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000472:Alkalosis, Respiratory / Q000209:etiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017490:Ichthyosis, Lamellar / Q000188:drug therapy; D007177:Inappropriate ADH Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009824:Ointments; D012459:Salicylates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020156:Salicylic Acid
chemical_list: D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D009824:Ointments; D012459:Salicylates; D020156:Salicylic Acid