Delayed cyanide toxicity is illustrated in the case of a 23-month-old child who ingested Super Nail Nail Off. This product has 98% to 100% acetonitrile and is used to remove sculptured nails. When ingested or inhaled by mammals, acetonitrile, an aliphatic nitrile, is metabolized to cyanide.1-5. Several deaths following inhalation of acetonitrile in industrial settings have been reported.6,7 Ingestion of acetonitrile has resulted in only one reported death.8 We present the following case to alert primary care physicians to the delayed cyanide toxicity of this product.
CASE REPORT
A previously well 23-month-old boy was seen in the emergency department 12 hours after the ingestion of appproximately 60 mL of Super Nail Nail Off.
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