Massive Talc Aspiration

Powder aspiration in children. Report of two cases.

“…Until now 22 cases of powder aspiration have been reported (Cless and Anger, 1954;Gould and Barnardo, 1972;Gouvea et al, 1966;Heiman and Aschner, 1922;Hughes and Kalmer, 1966;Jenkins, 1963;Lund and Feldt-Rasmussen, 1969;Molnar et al, 1962;Tortorolo and Romano, 1966). The patients were mainly children around 1 year of age.…”

Occupational exposure to talc containing asbestos: morbidity, mortality, and environmental studies of miners and millers.

“…Inhalation by children of large doses of talc have resulted in an inflammatory pulmonary response leading to death in some cases (37,38). The acute symptoms are initial slight respiratory distress increasing after four to six hours and accompanied by cough, tachycardi a, and cyanosis.…”

Nontoxic ingestion

“…Baby product cosmetics are very innocuous, the toxic ingested dose being in the neighbourhood of 15g per kg 3 . Talcum powder ingestion is innocuous but aspiration can produce symptoms resembling those of bronchiolitis 5 . Nail polish and nail polish removers contain a variety of solvents, including acetone.…”