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Talcum powder

Definition

This is poisoning from breathing in or swallowing talcum powder.

Alternative Names

Talc

Poisonous Ingredient

Talc

Where Found

• Talcum powder
• Some antiseptics

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms

Most symptoms are caused by accidental or repeated breathing in (inhaling) of talc dust. Breathing problems are the most common problem.

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

Home Treatment

Seek immediate emergency medical care. Breathing in talcum powder can cause very serious problems.

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

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:

• Fluids by IV
• Oxygen
• Breathing tube
• Mist tent with N-acetyl-cysteine, medicine (antidote) to reverse the effect of the poison
• Medicines to treat symptoms
• Medicines to treat an allergic reaction (diphenhydramine, epinephrine, or prednisone)

The patient may be admitted to the hospital.

Expectations (prognosis)

Breathing in talcum powder can lead to very serious lung problems, even death. How well a patient does depends on the time to treatment and the severity of the exposure.

Use caution when using talcum powder on babies. Serious lung damage and cancer have also been reported in workers who have repeatedly breathed in talcum powder over long periods of time.

Review Date:3/13/2006
Reviewed By:Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-RooseveltHospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed HealthcareNetwork.

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