A fatal case of Gun Blue ingestion in a toddler

Acute selenium poisoning occurs infrequently. The form of selenium encounte red plays a great role In toxicity. Several fatalities have been reported a nd all but I involved ingestion of selenious acid or selenium dioxide. A he althy 22-mo-old male ingested up to 15 mi of Gun Blue solution (selenious a cid). Initially he was pink, alert, and combative in the ambulance but his condition rapidly deteriorated, There was no measurable blood pressure; his oxygen saturation was 84% by pulse oximetry, and his mental status deterio rated to require hand ventilation The child was cyanotic, unresponsive, and without palpable pulses upon presentation. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation w as initiated unsuccessfully and was terminated after 35 minutes.