SEVERE ACUTE THINNER INTOXICATION

Thinner which contains aromatic hydrocarbons such as xylene, toluene a nd N-hexane is widely used in industrial plants manufacturing dyes, pl astic, varnishes and glues. Chronic intoxication due to abuse of solve nts, including thinner, by workers who inhale the solvent vapor is fre quently encountered. Acute Intoxication with ingestion of excessive am ounts is relatively rare and usually fatal. It is reported that 45-50 ml of orally Ingested thinner is enough to cause severe complications. The case reported here was forced to drink 200 ml of thinner by an ol der friend, and presented with severe complications such rhabdomyolysi s, polyneuropathy, chemical pneumonia and coma. To the best of our kno wledge this is the first case reported in the literature to survive ac ute thinner intoxication with such complications.