Boric acid poisoning

• Alternative Names

  Borax poisoning

• Poisonous Ingredient

  Boric acid

• Where Found
  • Antiseptics and astringents
  • Enamels and glazes
  • Glass fiber manufacturing
  • Medicated powders
  • Skin lotions
  • Some paints
  • Some rodent and ant pesticides
  • Photography chemicals
  • Powders to kill roaches

  Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

• Symptoms

  The main symptoms of boric acid poisoning are blue-green vomit, diarrhea, and a bright red rash on the skin. Other symptoms may include:

  • Blisters
  • Collapse
  • Coma
  • Convulsions
  • Drowsiness
  • Fever
  • Lack of desire to do anything
  • Low blood pressure
  • Significantly decreased urine output (or none)
  • Sloughing of skin
  • Twitching of facial muscles, arms, hands, legs, and feet
• Home Treatment

  If the chemical is on the skin, remove by washing the area thoroughly.

  If the chemical was swallowed, seek medical treatment immediately.

• Before Calling Emergency

  Determine the following information:

  • The patient's age, weight, and condition
  • The name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
  • The time it was swallowed
  • The amount swallowed
• Poison Control, or a local emergency number

  The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

  This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

  Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.

  See: Poison control center - emergency number

• What to expect at the emergency room

  The health care provider will measure and monitor the patient's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Treatment depends on the individual symptoms. The patient may receive:

  • Dialysis
  • Fluids by mouth or IV
  • Tube through the mouth into the stomach to wash out the stomach (gastric lavage)

  Note: Activated charcoal does not effectively treat (absorb) boric acid.

• Expectations (prognosis)

  The infant death rate from boric acid poisonings is high. However, boric acid poisoning is considerably rarer than in the past because the substance is no longer used as a disinfectant in nurseries. It is also no longer commonly used in medical preparations. Boric acid is an ingredient in some vaginal suppositories used for yeast infections, although this is NOT a standard treatment.

• References

  Goldfrank LR. Ed. Goldfrank’s Toxicologic Emergencies. 8th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2006.

  Cain WS. Sensory and associated reactions to mineral dusts: sodium borate, calcium oxide, and calcium sulfate. J Occup Environ Hyg. April 2004; 1(4): 222-36.

  Matsuda K Toxicological analyses over the past five years at a single institution. Rinsho Byori.Oct. 2004; 52(10): 819-23.

Review Date: 1/30/2009

Reviewed By: John E. Duldner, Jr., MD, MS, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Samaritan Regional Health System, Ashland, Ohio. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.