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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Are The Effects Of Paraffin Ingestion In A Baby?

What are the after effects if a baby of 17 months drank paraffin, I took him to the hospital and he was there one night for conservation but he now seems sick, he had a runny nose before so how do i know its just flu and if its the paraffin that is having an affect on him
Mon, 18 Aug 2014
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Pediatrician,  's  Response
Thanks for putting your query up at HealthCareMagic. You have not indicated what sort of paraffin the child has taken - whether it is soft paraffin, liquid paraffin or kerosene. Paraffin is poorly absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract but there is often aspiration into the respiratory tract especially if the child vomits. This causes pneumonitis which may be so severe as to cause pulmonary oedema and hypoxaemia. Such features usually occur within hours but may be seen a day or so after ingestion when the child becomes breathless and feverish up to 40ºC. The signs of pneumonitis also include cough, tachypnoea and tachycardia, cyanosis, pulmonary crepitations and rhonchi. However a chest X-ray often shows pulmonary changes (non-segmental consolidation or collapse, especially on the right side and lower lobes) even without pulmonary physical signs. Had I been able to see the Chest X-Ray, I would have been able to comment better. I am sure that you may tally the case of your baby with the details I have provided, and arrive at a conclusion yourself. If he has not been vomiting, and if your doctor says that the chest is clear, probably it is just a case of common cold.

I hope that answers your query. Feel free to get back with the details and I would try to help you further.
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What Are The Effects Of Paraffin Ingestion In A Baby?

Thanks for putting your query up at HealthCareMagic. You have not indicated what sort of paraffin the child has taken - whether it is soft paraffin, liquid paraffin or kerosene. Paraffin is poorly absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract but there is often aspiration into the respiratory tract especially if the child vomits. This causes pneumonitis which may be so severe as to cause pulmonary oedema and hypoxaemia. Such features usually occur within hours but may be seen a day or so after ingestion when the child becomes breathless and feverish up to 40ºC. The signs of pneumonitis also include cough, tachypnoea and tachycardia, cyanosis, pulmonary crepitations and rhonchi. However a chest X-ray often shows pulmonary changes (non-segmental consolidation or collapse, especially on the right side and lower lobes) even without pulmonary physical signs. Had I been able to see the Chest X-Ray, I would have been able to comment better. I am sure that you may tally the case of your baby with the details I have provided, and arrive at a conclusion yourself. If he has not been vomiting, and if your doctor says that the chest is clear, probably it is just a case of common cold. I hope that answers your query. Feel free to get back with the details and I would try to help you further.