An unusual cause of burn injury: skin exposure to monochloroacetic acid.
Chemical burns can be complicated by the absorption of some of the toxic products through the skin and a subsequent systemic toxicity. We report here the case of a 3-year-old child who was accidentally exposed to monochloroacetic acid and sent to our burn unit with second-degree burn wounds. Regardless of the entry route, monochloroacetic is rapidly and very effectively absorbed and induces a severe toxic syndrome. In the case of skin resorption, the severity of the intoxication is directly related to the area of the contaminated skin contaminated with fatalities when the exposure level reaches more than 5% of the body surface. In the case of a chemical burn with a suspicion of systemic toxicity or in case of burn with an unusual product, the correct attitude is to contact a poison information center, to immediately wash the exposed skin, and to start treating the systemic toxicity as soon as possible. The availability of specific antidotes in the case of unusual poisoning can be a problem.
Pirson
J
J
Burn Unit, Belgian Ministry of Defense, National Poison Center, Brussels, Belgium.
Toussaint
P
P
Segers
N
N
D000059:Accidents; D000085:Acetates / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000138:Acidosis / Q000209:etiology; D000327:Adsorption; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008508:Medication Errors; D008976:Molluscum Contagiosum / Q000188:drug therapy
D000085:Acetates; C006972:chloroacetic acid