Acute upper respiratory obstruction and rhabdomiolysis due to intoxication with a hair dye

Abstract

There have been few cases reported of intoxication by hair dyes in Antioquia; however, their toxicity may be potentially lethal when their components enter the organism by oral route inducing a multiorganic compromise that may lead to death. We report the case of a two year old girl who ingested 125mg/kg of paraphenylenediamine, with boric acid and sodium perborate; these compounds are part of the commercial presentation of a hair dye; the child suffered airway obstruction because of angioedema that required intubation, ventila tory support, steroids and antihistaminics; due to the airway involvement the patient presented acute pulmonary edema and subsequently pneumonia that required antibioticotherapy. Additionally, she had severe rhabdomyolysis that was treated with adequate fluid administration to avoid alterations in renal function. She remained at hospital for ten days and was discharged in good condition.

We review the possible pathophysiologic mechanisms, the clinical manifestations and the treatment of paraphenylenediamine intoxication because this compound was the most important cause of the clinical manifestations of our patient.