formalin toxicity

[Acherona]

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I've been doing a path elective for the past two weeks with significant exposure to formalin (autopsy, grossing specimens). The other day my lungs started feeling weird and now I have a dry cough. I don't have any other symptoms except more fatigue than usual. Could this be a chemical pneumonitis from the formalin? Anybody else ever experience that?

 

[yaah]

Unlikely, unless you were inhaling it directly, but possible. Some people do have reactions to it, approaching a type of allergy. If it goes away when you stop and returns when you begin again, it is probably related. Some people get around it by wearing masks or making sure specimens are rinsed thoroughly. We have a couple of attendings here who avoid it like the plague and anytime they have to see a specimen they want it rinsed for a minute or two in water.

Formalin gave me a rash on my wrist!

 

[xanthines]

I'll be the first admit that I'm weird, but I kind of like the smell of formalin. However, it burns my eyes for some reason. It's not as bad as onions, though.

-X

 

[112641]

After my forensics rotation I LOVED the smell of formalin... and Xylene.. mmmmmmmmmmm

 

[docbiohazard]

I've been doing a path elective for the past two weeks with significant exposure to formalin (autopsy, grossing specimens). The other day my lungs started feeling weird and now I have a dry cough. I don't have any other symptoms except more fatigue than usual. Could this be a chemical pneumonitis from the formalin? Anybody else ever experience that?

I don't know where you're at, but all manner of respiratory virii are circulating around here. I think I've had at least 2 different viral respiratory infections over the past 4 weeks. First, it was general congestion and malaise, that relented, then it was a nonproductive cough and sore throat, that relented, then it was a deep hacking dry cough with scant sputum, and fluid on my ears, now I'm on to productive cough and massive head congestion.

If anything, your symptoms sound similar to what I was having earlier in the week. Let me know if your cough turns productive along with some head congestion.

BH

 

[schrute]

I don't know where you're at, but all manner of respiratory virii are circulating around here. I think I've had at least 2 different viral respiratory infections over the past 4 weeks. First, it was general congestion and malaise, that relented, then it was a nonproductive cough and sore throat, that relented, then it was a deep hacking dry cough with scant sputum, and fluid on my ears, now I'm on to productive cough and massive head congestion.

If anything, your symptoms sound similar to what I was having earlier in the week. Let me know if your cough turns productive along with some head congestion.

BH

Ditto that. Mine started with a slight cough the morning after I had chili rellenos for dinner...think I aspirated in my sleep. The next day I had a fever and felt like Guido took a baseball bat to every joint in my body.
But that wasn't as bad as the chills I had the next night...for crap's sake I couldn't even aim for the toilet it was so bad.

Then I was introduced to the wonders of moxifloxicin. Thank you Bayer Health.

 

[docbiohazard]

Then I was introduced to the wonders of moxifloxicin. Thank you Bayer Health.

Through this whole thing, I have resisted the urge to take any antibiotics, because I don't have a fever and assume its all viral, more or less... but now that I'm coughing up chunky goodness for the past few days and have fluid on my left ear thats driving me nuts, I'm about ready to hit the Z-pack...

I've never had moxi... a buddy of mine knew a fellow resident who was feeling ill right before his scheduled vacation, so he took some moxi and it made him swell up like a strawberry...

BH

 

[schrute]

Through this whole thing, I have resisted the urge to take any antibiotics, because I don't have a fever and assume its all viral, more or less... but now that I'm coughing up chunky goodness for the past few days and have fluid on my left ear thats driving me nuts, I'm about ready to hit the Z-pack...

I've never had moxi... a buddy of mine knew a fellow resident who was feeling ill right before his scheduled vacation, so he took some moxi and it made him swell up like a strawberry...

BH

Oh it's good stuff--felt better in <24 hrs (minus the pseudo-smoker's cough), except that it crosses the BBB, so I attribute it to me feeling dizzy and a little off the past few days.