Abstract
Serious toxicity can result from exposure to small amounts of methyl salicylate. Methyl
salicylate is widely available as a component in many over-the-counter brands of creams,
ointments, lotions, liniments and medicated oils intended for topical application
to relieve musculoskeletal aches and pains. Among the most potent forms of methyl
salicylate is oil of wintergreen (98% methyl salicylate). Other products with varying
concentrations of methyl salicylate are ubiquitous throughout many parts of the world,
including a number of products marketed as Asian herbal remedies. The toxic potential
of all of these formulations is often underestimated by health care providers and
the general public. A comprehensive review of the existing medical literature on methyl
salicylate poisoning was performed, and data compiled over the past two decades by
the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) was examined. Methyl salicylate
continues to be a relatively common source of pediatric exposures. Persistent reports
of life-threatening and fatal toxicity were found. In children less than 6 years of
age, a teaspoon (5 mL) or less of oil of wintergreen has been implicated in several
well-documented deaths. More needs to be done to educate both health care providers
and the general public regarding the dangers of these widely available formulations.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
April 11,
2006
Received in revised form:
August 31,
2005
Received:
December 22,
2004
Footnotes
Series Editors: Jeffrey N. Love, md, The Georgetown University Emergency Department, Washington, DC; Wendy Klein-Schwartz, pharmd, mph, The Maryland Poison Center, Baltimore, md; Liesl Curtis, md, The Georgetown University Emergency Department, Washington, DC.
Selected Topics: Toxicology is coordinated by Kenneth Kulig, md, of Denver, Colorado
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
