title: Phenol intoxication in a child.
abstract: Phenol preparations are used in dermatology and plastic surgery for the treatment of acne and during chemical face peeling. At this institution, phenol peeling is used in addition to mechanical dermabrasion for the elimination of subclinical premalignant lesions of patients having xeroderma pigmentosum. As the phenol peel is performed, most surgeons concentrate on skin results, ignoring systemic complications. Local histological changes and systemic toxicity have been seen during applications. Cardiac arrhythmias and even sudden death have been reported. The high incidence of cardiac arrhythmias after topical application of phenol preparations is demonstrated. The case of an 11-year-old boy with a diagnosis of xeroderma pigmentosum who underwent mechanical dermabrasion and chemical peeling with phenol and then developed severe cardiac arrhythmias is reported. A serious systemic toxic effect on cardiac rhythm from cutaneously applied phenol occurred in this case.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: R Erkin
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Unlü
authors.forename: M Sahin
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Alagöz
authors.forename: A Caĝri
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Uysal
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Orbay
authors.forename: Hidir
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kilinç
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tekin
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sensöz
authors.forename: Gülcan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Erk
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002615:Chemexfoliation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000506:poisoning*; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019800:Phenol / Q000506:poisoning*; D014983:Xeroderma Pigmentosum / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D004232:Diuretics; D019800:Phenol