Clinical evaluation of pediatric ethylene glycol monobutyl ether poisonings. 1992

B S Dean, and E P Krenzelok
Pittsburgh Poison Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, PA 15213.

Ethylene glycol butyl ether, CAS 111-76-2, an ingredient in many popular commercial window/glass cleaners, is known to produce equal if not greater toxicity than ethylene glycol when administered to animals. Treatment recommendations for human poisonings are based upon animal data and include the use of ethanol therapy to inhibit the production of toxic metabolites. No human experiential data exist to accurately assess human toxicity or to verify treatment modalities. A 5 month retrospective review of all glass cleaner ingestions reported to a regional poison information center disclosed 24 pediatric patients, ages 7 mo to 9 y, who ingested 5-300 mL of a liquid glass cleaning product containing ethylene glycol butyl ether. All ingestions were reported within 5 min of ingestion, and all 24 children were asymptomatic at that time and subsequently. The product concentrations of ethylene glycol butyl ether ranged from 0.5% to 9.9%. Two of the 24 children ingested > 15 mL and were treated by gastric emptying and 24 h hospital observation. Neither hospitalized child suffered symptoms consistent with hemolysis, nervous system depression, acidosis, or renal compromise. Dilution with oral fluids at home is considered appropriate treatment of pediatric ingestions of < 10 mL of a commercial liquid glass/window cleaners containing < 10% ethylene glycol butyl ether.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D007486 Ipecac A syrup made from the dried rhizomes of two different species, CEPHAELIS ipecacuanha and C. acuminata. They contain EMETINE, cephaeline, psychotrine and other ISOQUINOLINES. Ipecac syrup is used widely as an emetic acting both locally on the gastric mucosa and centrally on the chemoreceptor trigger zone. Syrup of Ipecac,Ipecac (Syrup),Ipecac Syrup
D011041 Poisoning A condition or physical state produced by the ingestion, injection, inhalation of or exposure to a deleterious agent. Poisonings
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D003902 Detergents Purifying or cleansing agents, usually salts of long-chain aliphatic bases or acids, that exert cleansing (oil-dissolving) and antimicrobial effects through a surface action that depends on possessing both hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties. Cleansing Agents,Detergent Pods,Laundry Detergent Pods,Laundry Pods,Syndet,Synthetic Detergent,Agent, Cleansing,Agents, Cleansing,Cleansing Agent,Detergent,Detergent Pod,Detergent Pod, Laundry,Detergent Pods, Laundry,Detergent, Synthetic,Detergents, Synthetic,Laundry Detergent Pod,Laundry Pod,Pod, Detergent,Pod, Laundry,Pod, Laundry Detergent,Pods, Detergent,Pods, Laundry,Pods, Laundry Detergent,Synthetic Detergents
D005026 Ethylene Glycols An ethylene compound with two hydroxy groups (-OH) located on adjacent carbons. They are viscous and colorless liquids. Some are used as anesthetics or hypnotics. However, the class is best known for their use as a coolant or antifreeze. Dihydroxyethanes,Ethanediols,Glycols, Ethylene
D005440 Fluid Therapy Therapy whose basic objective is to restore the volume and composition of the body fluids to normal with respect to WATER-ELECTROLYTE BALANCE. Fluids may be administered intravenously, orally, by intermittent gavage, or by HYPODERMOCLYSIS. Oral Rehydration Therapy,Rehydration,Rehydration, Oral,Oral Rehydration,Rehydration Therapy, Oral,Therapy, Fluid,Therapy, Oral Rehydration,Fluid Therapies,Oral Rehydration Therapies,Oral Rehydrations,Rehydration Therapies, Oral,Rehydrations,Rehydrations, Oral,Therapies, Fluid,Therapies, Oral Rehydration
D005500 Follow-Up Studies Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease. Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D005751 Gastric Lavage Medical procedure involving the emptying of contents in the stomach through the use of a tube inserted through the nose or mouth. It is performed to remove poisons or relieve pressure due to intestinal blockages or during surgery. Irrigation, Gastric,Lavage, Gastric,Gastric Irrigation,Gastric Irrigations,Gastric Lavages,Irrigations, Gastric,Lavages, Gastric

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