Faulty sausage production causing methaemoglobinaemia.
A family outbreak of methaemoglobinaemia following ingestion of sausages made using 'saltpetre' is reported. Saltpetre is a generic term for several potassium and sodium based compounds. On this occasion imprecise ordering led to the use of sodium nitrite rather than the usual potassium nitrate, with extremely serious consequences.
Kennedy
N
N
Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Manchester.
Smith
C P
CP
McWhinney
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000931:Antidotes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D005511:Food Handling; D005520:Food Preservatives / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008461:Meat Products; D008708:Methemoglobinemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012977:Sodium Nitrite / Q000506:poisoning*
D000931:Antidotes; D005520:Food Preservatives; D012977:Sodium Nitrite; D008751:Methylene Blue