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Formic acid burns - two cases of terrible medication administration error

Publication at Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové |
2019

Abstract

Formic acid of 10-90% cincentration has been used for its caustic effect as one of the methods of treatment of viral warts. Although nowadays considered absolete for the risk of irritant dermatitis, burnd and necrosis followed by scarring, the topical treatments is still being prescribed by dermatologists.

The authors report two cases of burns in infants. the cause was common to both cases the unfortunate erroneous administration of topical solution orally. The patients suffered significant burnd affecting the face neck, oral cavity and oesophagus.

In both cases, the systemic effects of concentrated formic acid were expressed differently.