Methyl salicylate poisoning is unusual, and deaths from high levels of the chemical are rare.
"Chronic
use is more dangerous than one-time use," Edward Arsura, chairman of
medicine at Richmond University Medical Center, told the Staten Island
Advance. "Exercise and heat can accentuate absorption."
Medical Encyclopedia:
Methyl salicylate overdose
URL of this page:
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002683.htm
Alternative names
Deep heating rubs overdose; Oil of wintergreen overdose
Definition
This is poisoning from swallowing methyl salicylate.
Poisonous Ingredient
Where Found
- Oil of wintergreen
- Deep-heating creams used to relieve sore muscles and joints
- Solutions for vaporizers
Note: This list may not be all inclusive.
Symptoms
- Lungs
- Difficulty breathing
- Rapid breathing
- No breathing
- Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- Gastrointestinal
- Nervous system
- Dizziness
- Hallucinations
- Drowsiness
- Agitation
- Heart and blood
- Whole body
Before Calling Emergency
Determine the following information:
- Patient's age, weight, and condition
- Name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
- Time it was swallowed
- Amount swallowed
Poison Control, or a local emergency number
The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called
from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will
let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further
instructions.
This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control
centers in the U.S. use this national number. You should call if you
have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT
need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7
days a week.
Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.
See National Poison Control center.
What to expect at the emergency room
The health care provider will measure and monitor the patient's
vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood
pressure. The patient may receive:
- Methods to make the person throw up
- Activated charcoal.
- Laxative
- Blood tests to determine the salicylate level in the blood
- Fluids (milk, fruit juice, or, in severe cases, IV fluids)
- Sodium bicarbonate
- Dialysis (in severe cases)
Expectations (prognosis)
How well a patient does depends on how much salicylate is in the
blood. The person usually recovers if the effect of the salicylate can
be turned off (neutralized).
Methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen) is the most poisonous (toxic)
form of the salicylates. Doses of less than 1 teaspoonful have been
deadly in small children.
Update Date:
3/13/2006
Updated by: Eric Perez, MD, Department of
Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-RooseveltHospital Center, New York, NY.
Review provided by VeriMed HealthcareNetwork.
 | A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program
is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of
quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is
among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health
information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process.
A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and
subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation
(www.hon.ch). |
