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Trioxane Ingestion in a Child. Wilderness Environ Med 2020 Sep;31(3):350-353

Date

08/11/2020

Pubmed ID

32773354

DOI

10.1016/j.wem.2020.05.002

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85089159524 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)

Abstract

Trioxane is a stable cyclic trimer of formaldehyde. It is an active ingredient in fuel bars for heating prepackaged foods by military and outdoorspeople. Trioxane depolymerizes to formaldehyde in an acidic environment and is further oxidized to formic acid, which causes neurologic and ocular damage. Because it is solid at room temperature, trioxane is a greater potential hazard to children than aqueous formaldehyde. Little information is available regarding the management of ingestion of solid, compressed fuel bars. We present a case of a 19-mo-old male child who ingested an unknown amount of a trioxane fuel bar, with fortunately limited consequences.

Author List

Theobald JL, Kostic M, Stanton M, Gummin D

Authors

Mark Kostic MD Professor in the Emergency Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Matthew Stanton PharmD Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Pharmacy Administration department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Jillian Lee Theobald MD, PhD Associate Professor in the Emergency Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Eating
Folic Acid
Formates
Humans
Infant
Male
Poisoning
Treatment Outcome