title: Acute ammonium dichromate poisoning in a 2 year-old child.
abstract: Hexavalent chromium compounds are most commonly used in printing, dyeing, plastics and rayon manufacturing. Poisoning in children by ammonium dichromate, an odorless and bright orange-red crystal, are rarely reported. Acute poisoning will result in death due to multi-organ failure. The target organs that are affected by this poison are the respiratory system, kidneys, liver, eyes and skin. On ingestion, initially there is a relative lack of severe symptoms and signs. Hence, the delay in seeking medical attention could lead to the increased rate of mortality. In this case study, we report the ingestion of ammonium dichromate by a child. Despite appropriate management, such as hepatic supportive measures and plasma transfusion, the toxicity progressed to multi-organ failure and death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Thrissur, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Menon Narayanankutty
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Sunilkumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Thrissur, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Thekkuttuparambil Ananthanarayanan
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Ajith
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Thrissur, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Vadakut Krishnan
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Parvathy
keywords: Ammonium dichromate; N-acetylcysteine; ascorbic acid; hepato-renal failure dimercaprol