MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Cold wave lotion

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Cold wave lotion

Contents of this page:
Alternative names Definition Poisonous Ingredient Where Found Symptoms	Home Treatment Before Calling Emergency Poison Control, or a local emergency number What to expect at the emergency room Expectations (prognosis)

Alternative names

Thioglycollates

Definition Return to top

This poisoning is from exposure to cold wave lotion.

Poisonous Ingredient Return to top

Thioglycollates

Where Found Return to top

Various cold wave lotions, numerous brand names

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms Return to top

Respiratory
- Shortness of breath (either from inhalation or allergic reaction to skin exposure)
Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- Possibly serious damage to the eyes
- Mouth irritation
Skin
- If the product comes in contact with skin possible rash and reddening of the skin (from over-use or allergic reaction)
Gastrointestinal
- Cramping
- Stomach pain
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea

Home Treatment Return to top

Discontinue use. Dilute with water or milk. Call Poison Control for guidance. For any ingestion or toxic exposure, seek emergency medical care immediately.

Before Calling Emergency Return to top

Determine the following information:

The patient's age, weight, and condition
The name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
The time it was swallowed
The amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number Return to top

See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room Return to top

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

Treat the allergic reaction with diphenhydramine and prednisone
For swallowed poison
- Placement of a tube down the nose and into the stomach (a nasogastric tube, or an NG tube) to wash out the stomach (gastric lavage)
- Activated charcoal administration
- Endoscopy -- the placement of a camera down the throat to see the extent of burns to the esophagus and the stomach
- Give IV fluids
- Admission to the hospital
- Give an antidote
- Treat the symptoms
For skin exposure
- Irrigation (washing of the skin), perhaps every few hours for several days
- Skin debridement (surgical removal of burned skin)
- Admission or transfer to a hospital that specializes in burn care

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

Skin problems will clear up if use is discontinued. If the lotion is ingested, recovery normally occurs if appropriate treatment is given in time. As with any toxic ingestion, prognosis and recovery depends on the time to treatment and the amount of toxin ingested.

Update Date: 2/12/2004

Updated by: Cherlin Johnson, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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