Citation

Beshir L, Kaballo B, Young D. Ann. Clin. Biochem. 2016; 54(4): 507-510.

Affiliation

University of Pennsylvania.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Royal Society of Medicine Press)

DOI

10.1177/0004563216685117

PMID

27923888

Abstract

Para-phenylenediamine (PPD) is widely used as a chemical in hair dyes and in combination with Henna. This dye is used to paint the body for decorative reasons, to speed the processing time of henna and intensify the results. PPD is quite used in the Middle East, North Africa and areas like India. Several reports have been published of fatal ingestion of hair dye containing para-phenylenediamine. Here we describe the case of a 14 year-old girl who ingested the compound but whose prompt treatment prevented her death. Ingestion of paraphenylenediamine produces a typical triad of angioneurotic oedema, rhabdomyolysis and acute tubular necrosis. Awareness of signs of these associated conditions in our patient, together with a comprehensive history, facilitated appropriate treatment to be instituted. We document the steps we took to enable her complete physical recovery.

© 2016 Sage Publications, Inc.

Language: en