Case Report: Heavy metal poisoning and acute liver failure following use of a folk remedy in a child with a burn.

The use of folk remedies for treating burns is a common practice in China, driven by the belief that they can prevent scarring. However, these remedies often contain unregulated and complex ingredients that can have severe consequences, including worsening wound conditions, increasing the risk of infection, and leading to systemic heavy metal poisoning. A recent case study highlights the dangers of using folk remedies for burn treatment, involving a 1-year-and-8-month-old boy who suffered a burn injury. The child's parents treated the burn with a folk remedy, which ultimately led to a significant worsening of the wound condition, necessitating hospital admission. The child's condition deteriorated rapidly, with the development of acute liver failure, which required plasma exchange and surgical debridement. Laboratory tests revealed high levels of heavy metals, including chromium, nickel, tin, and lead, in the child's blood, urine, and wound samples, as well as in the folk remedy itself. The toxicological risks associated with the heavy metal content in the folk remedy significantly contributed to the patient's condition. Fortunately, after receiving standardized medical treatment, the child made a full recovery after 37 days, with liver enzyme levels and coagulation function returning to normal. This case underscores the serious health risks associated with using folk remedies for burn management, emphasizing the need for clinicians to be vigilant for signs of heavy metal toxicity and to apply early, targeted interventions. It also highlights the importance of optimizing treatment protocols for heavy metal poisoning to improve outcomes for affected children and inform future cases. By raising awareness of the dangers of folk remedies and promoting evidence-based medical treatment, we can reduce the risk of adverse outcomes and improve burn care outcomes. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40433470/