Chronic lung disease after activated charcoal aspiration

Pediatrics. 2002 May;109(5):959-61. doi: 10.1542/peds.109.5.959.

Abstract

The ingestion of toxic substances is a common pediatric emergency. Activated charcoal is part of the standard treatment for most toxic ingestions and is considered a benign therapy. We report a case of inadvertent administration of activated charcoal into the trachea that resulted in the development of chronic lung disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage
  • Charcoal / adverse effects*
  • Charcoal / therapeutic use
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chronic Disease
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inhalation
  • Intubation, Intratracheal / adverse effects
  • Medical Errors
  • Pneumonia / chemically induced*
  • Pneumonia / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia / diagnostic imaging
  • Pneumonia, Aspiration / chemically induced
  • Pneumonia, Aspiration / diagnostic imaging
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Charcoal