Severe poisoning after accidental pediatric ingestion of glycol ethers

Pediatrics. 2012 Oct;130(4):e1026-9. doi: 10.1542/peds.2011-3849. Epub 2012 Sep 24.

Abstract

Human glycol ether poisonings are sparsely reported in the medical literature. We describe a healthy 22-month-old boy who accidentally drank up to 330 mL of brake fluid containing a 75% bleed of various glycol ethers (5%-50% polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether, 15%-40% triethylene glycol monoethyl ether, 1%-30% triethylene glycol monomethyl ether, 1%-25% triethylene glycol monobutyl ether, 1%-20% polyethylene glycol, monobutyl ether, 1%-20% triethylene glycol, and <10% of other glycol ethers). Within 4 hours, he became somnolent and developed a persistent metabolic acidosis. Thirty minutes later, he received 1 dose of fomepizole. Neither progression nor improvement in clinical or metabolic status was noted after the fomepizole. He received hemodialysis for 3 hours ∼8 hours after ingestion, and his symptoms resolved resulting in an uneventfully recovery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Ethers / poisoning*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Poisoning / diagnosis
  • Poisoning / therapy
  • Polyethylene Glycols / poisoning*

Substances

  • Ethers
  • Polyethylene Glycols