Acute poisoning by selenious acid

Abstract

A 2 yo male child ingested approximately 15 ml of a Gun Blue solution containing selenious acid, nitric acid and copper nitrate. He was immediately given milk and vomited spontaneously blood-stained food with a garlic smell. He was admitted to our Centre less than 3 hr following ingestion. An esophago-gastroscopy showed a second degree burn of both esophagus and stomach. He became comatose and had to be ventilated mechanically. Metabolic acidosis, leucocytosis, hyperglycemia and hemoconcentration were also observed. During the following day he developed a severe intestinal distension, a cardiomyopathy (CPK = 1,302, cardiac arrhythmia), and moderate hepatic, renal and pulmonary dysfunctions. Plasma selenium concentration was 285 micrograms/L and the maximum urinary concentration was 28,459 micrograms/L. After 4 days, his condition had improved considerably and he was about to be extubated when he suddenly developed acute respiratory distress. A similar episode occurred 24 hr later. His lung function progressively deteriorated; later he required the use of an extracorporeal membrane lung. Legionella dumofii was found the causative agent. He died 17 d after ingestion despite aggressive treatment. Acute selenious acid poisoning and its relation to Legionnaire's disease is discussed.