Talcum powder

Definition:

This poisoning is due to exposure to talcum powder.

Alternative Names:

Talc

Poisonous Ingredient:

Talc

Where Found:

Talcum powder
Some antiseptics

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms:

Body as a whole
- Fever
- Twitching of the facial muscles
- Twitching of arms, hands, legs, or feet
- Convulsions
- Urine output, decreased significantly (or none)
- Collapse
Respirations
- Cough
- Difficulty breathing
- Acute respirator distress
- Respiratory failure
Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- Jaundice (yellowed eyes)
- Eye irritation
- Cough
- Throat irritation
Skin
- Blisters
- Rash
- Bluish skin, lips, and fingernails
- Sloughing of skin
- Yellow skin
Gastrointestinal
- Vomiting - mucous, blood
- Diarrhea - mucous, blood
Heart and blood vessels
- Low blood pressure
Nervous system
- Drowsiness
- Lack of desire to do anything
- Coma

Home Treatment:

For any inhalation, seek emergency medical care immediately. Inhalation of talcum powder can be very serious. If on the skin, remove it by washing the area. Call Poison Control for guidance.

Before Calling Emergency:

Determine the following information:

The patient's age, weight, and condition
The name of the 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:

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. Bring 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 inhalation:
- Administer oxygen
- Breathing tube (assisted ventillation)
- Mist tent (with N-acetyl-cysteine, an antidote)
- Admission to the intensive care unit
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):

Inhalation of talcum powder can lead to very serious respiratory complications, even death. Recovery and prognosis depend on the time to treatment and the extent of the exposure. Seek emergency medical care immediately for any ingestion or inhalation.

Review Date: 2/10/2002
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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