Patient's question:
A 7-year-old child, while seeking traditional Chinese medicine treatment for a cough, consumed excessive borax (approximately 3 grams per day, as prescribed in the medication). After taking it for several months, the child experienced a recurrence of headaches, yellowing of hair, and acne issues. Is there any danger, and how should this be resolved?Doctor's answer:
Boric acid or borax (sodium borate) can be rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, pleural cavity, and damaged skin, so it can cause poisoning due to oral ingestion or local application. Common causes of poisoning in children are as follows: applying powders containing boric acid, boric acid powder, or boric acid ointment to large areas of wounds, eczema, and diaper rash; lactating mothers frequently using boric acid solution to wash their nipples, which are then suckled by the infant; young children accidentally drinking boric acid solution to moisten their lungs or ingesting thick cockroach killer pills (containing 30% boric acid); and mistakenly using boric acid solution as physiological saline for anesthesia.