Just two-year-old Dusty from Australia is fighting for his life in hospital after accidentally inhaling gold decorative powder. His mother was just using it to bake a birthday cake for her friend’s child. This glitter dust has a dangerous property, upon contact with moisture, it turns into a thick paste, which immediately blocked the boy’s lungs and airways, writes
The boy became unresponsive after inhaling the powder, and the family immediately called emergency services. Dusty had to undergo emergency surgery, during which doctors tried to clear the lungs. The boy is currently kept in artificial sleep, unable to breathe on his own and connected to machines. In the coming days, doctors are planning another operation to check the lungs and adjust the breathing tube.
In this regard, the National Poison Control Center warned that although some cake decorations labeled as edible, others may contain heavy metals or substances that cause serious toxic reactions if inhaled or swallowed.
What to do if a child swallows or inhales something dangerous?
In such a critical situation, it is first of all important to keep calm and calm yourself and the child. If the child has no visible symptoms and seems to be fine, as a precaution, contact a doctor or a toxicology information center for advice on the next course of action. However, if the child is vomiting, has a fever, is in pain or has difficulty breathing, do not wait for anything and immediately take him to the emergency room.
Special attention should be paid to cases where the child has blisters, redness or severe pain around the mouth. That’s when it probably swallowed the caustic. In that case, you should give him small sips of water or milk to relieve the burning sensation, but again, you need to see a doctor urgently.
In the hospital, the doctors will do the necessary examinations, including an X-ray and breathing control. Although up to 80% of foreign objects pass through the body naturally without medical intervention, substances and objects that can damage the stomach or block the lungs, require immediate professional help.
