Preprint Case Report Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Benzalkonium Chloride Poisoning in Pediatric Patients: Report of Case with a Severe Clinical Course and Literature Review

Version 1 : Received: 5 January 2024 / Approved: 8 January 2024 / Online: 8 January 2024 (07:01:45 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Nițescu, V.; Lescaie, A.; Boghițoiu, D.; Ulmeanu, C. Benzalkonium Chloride Poisoning in Pediatric Patients: Report of Case with a Severe Clinical Course and Literature Review. Toxics 2024, 12, 139. Nițescu, V.; Lescaie, A.; Boghițoiu, D.; Ulmeanu, C. Benzalkonium Chloride Poisoning in Pediatric Patients: Report of Case with a Severe Clinical Course and Literature Review. Toxics 2024, 12, 139.

Abstract

The use of disinfectants, particularly those containing quaternary ammonium compounds (QUACs), has dramatically escalated globally since the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. We report a case that highlights the risks associated with the ingestion of a low-concentration QUACs solution and emphasizes the importance of effective management in resolving severe lesions without sequelae. A 17-month-old boy experienced severe respiratory failure after ingesting a disinfectant containing benzalkonium chloride (BAC). The child was initially treated in a local emergency department and was subsequently transferred to a pediatric poison center. Upon evaluation, the child was found to have grade III-A corrosive esophageal lesions and chemical pneumonitis. Several complications, including massive pneumothorax and candidemia, occurred during the clinical course of the disease. However, with timely medical intervention and appropriate supportive care, the patient completely recovered without any long-term sequelae. The properties of BAC and a comprehensive management approach may have been responsible for the patient's full recovery despite the potential life-threatening effects of the ingestion of disinfectants.

Keywords

disinfectants; quaternary ammonium compounds; benzalkonium compounds; poisoning, child; aspiration; pneumonia; pneumothorax; corrosion

Subject

Medicine and Pharmacology, Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health

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