Para-aminobenzoic acid overdose

Definition:

This poisoning is from an overdose of para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA).

Alternative Names:

PABA

Poisonous Ingredient:

Para-aminobenzoic acid

Where Found:

Some sunscreen products
Other skin care products

Symptoms:

Note: most toxic reactions to PABA are from allergic reactions, not overdoses.

Respiratory
- Slowed respirations (in extremely high doses)
- Shortness of breath (more common in allergic reactions)
Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- Eye irritation may occur after eye exposure
Skin
- Rash (allergic)
Gastrointestinal
- Nausea and/or vomiting
Nervous system (all effects are with extremely high doses)
- Dizziness
- Stupor
- Coma

Home Treatment:

If you suspect that someone might be having an allergic reaction to PABA or may have been exposed to a toxic dose of PABA, call Poison Control and seek medical care immediately. Irrigate or wash any skin which may have been exposed to PABA. Flush eyes with large amounts of water for eye exposure. Do not induce vomiting.

Before Calling Emergency:

Determine the following information:

The patient's age, weight, and condition
Name of product (as well as the ingredients and strength, if known)
The time it was swallowed
The amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number:

See Poison Control Centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room:

Some, or all of the following procedures may be performed:

For swallowed poison
- Placement of a tube down the nose and into the stomach (a nasogastric tube, or an NG tube) to wash out the stomach (gastric lavage)
- Activated charcoal administration
- Endoscopy -- the placement of a camera down the throat to see the extent of burns to the esophagus and the stomach
- Give IV fluids
- Admission to the hospital
- Give an antidote
- Treat the symptoms
For skin exposure
- Irrigation (washing of the skin), perhaps every few hours for several days
- Skin debridement (surgical removal of burned skin)
- Admission or transfer to a hospital that specializes in burn care
For allergic reactions
- Use of diphenhydramine
- Use of prednisone

Expectations (prognosis):

Ingestion of sunscreen products containing PABA rarely causes symptoms, except in very large doses. Some patients may be allergic to PABA.

Review Date: 2/1/2002
Reviewed By: Kevin G. Wheeler, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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