Is boric acid a safe and effective treatment for bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections. What are the potential risks and side effects of using boric acid suppositories and washes. How does boric acid compare to prescription treatments for vaginal infections.

Understanding Bacterial Vaginosis and Yeast Infections

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) and yeast infections are common vaginal conditions that can cause discomfort and concern for many women. While they share some similarities, these infections have distinct causes and symptoms.

What is Bacterial Vaginosis?

Bacterial vaginosis occurs when there’s an imbalance in the normal bacterial flora of the vagina. This condition is characterized by an overgrowth of certain bacteria, leading to a disruption in the vaginal ecosystem.

Common symptoms of BV include:

• Thin, grayish-white vaginal discharge
• Strong, fishy odor, especially after sexual intercourse
• Burning sensation during urination
• Itching or irritation around the vaginal area

What are Yeast Infections?

Yeast infections, also known as candidiasis, are caused by an overgrowth of the fungus Candida, typically Candida albicans. These infections can occur in various parts of the body, but vaginal yeast infections are particularly common.

Symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection may include:

• Thick, white, cottage cheese-like vaginal discharge
• Intense itching and irritation in and around the vagina
• Redness and swelling of the vulva
• Burning sensation during urination or intercourse

The Rise of Boric Acid as a Home Remedy

In recent years, boric acid has gained popularity on social media platforms as an at-home treatment for both bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections. But does this remedy live up to the hype?

Boric acid is a white, crystalline substance that has been used for various purposes, including as an antiseptic and insecticide. Its use in vaginal health is not new, but its recent surge in popularity has led to increased scrutiny from medical professionals.

How is Boric Acid Used for Vaginal Health?

Boric acid is typically used in two forms for vaginal health:

1. Suppositories: Small capsules filled with boric acid powder that are inserted into the vagina
2. Washes: Solutions containing boric acid used to rinse the vaginal area

Proponents of boric acid claim that it can help restore the vaginal pH balance and combat both bacterial and fungal overgrowth. But how effective is it really?

Effectiveness of Boric Acid for Vaginal Infections

According to Dr. Katherine Lessman, an OB-GYN at Nebraska Medicine, boric acid can be helpful in specific contexts, but it’s rarely considered a first-line treatment for vaginal infections.

Does Boric Acid Work for Bacterial Vaginosis?

While some studies have shown promising results for boric acid in treating bacterial vaginosis, it’s not typically recommended as a standalone treatment. Boric acid may be more effective when used in combination with prescription antibiotics, particularly for recurrent or resistant cases of BV.

Is Boric Acid Effective Against Yeast Infections?

Boric acid has shown some efficacy against certain types of yeast infections, particularly those caused by non-albicans Candida species. However, it’s important to note that most yeast infections are caused by Candida albicans, for which prescription antifungal medications are generally more effective and safer.

Safety Concerns and Side Effects of Boric Acid

While boric acid may have some benefits, it’s crucial to consider the potential risks and side effects associated with its use.

Potential Risks of Boric Acid Use

• Toxicity: Boric acid is highly toxic if swallowed. Even a single pill can be fatal if ingested orally.
• Chemical burns: Improper use or overuse of boric acid can lead to severe irritation and chemical burns in the vaginal area.
• Skin irritation: Sexual partners may experience skin irritation when exposed to boric acid.
• Pregnancy concerns: Boric acid is not recommended for pregnant women or those trying to conceive due to potential risks to fetal development.

Regulation and Quality Control

Dr. Lessman points out that boric acid products are not well-regulated, and their efficacy has not been thoroughly studied. Many commercially available formulations have not been proven to deliver on their claims, particularly when it comes to boric acid washes or rinses.

Comparing Boric Acid to Prescription Treatments

When it comes to treating vaginal infections, how does boric acid stack up against prescription medications?

Prescription Treatments for Bacterial Vaginosis

The standard treatment for bacterial vaginosis typically involves prescription antibiotics such as metronidazole or clindamycin. These medications have been extensively studied and proven effective in treating BV.

Prescription Antifungals for Yeast Infections

For yeast infections, prescription antifungal medications like fluconazole (oral) or miconazole (topical) are generally considered more effective and safer than boric acid. These medications target the specific fungi responsible for the infection.

Dr. Lessman emphasizes that prescription treatments are not only more effective but also safer than boric acid for most cases of vaginal infections.

When Might Boric Acid Be Recommended?

While boric acid is not typically a first-line treatment, there are certain situations where it might be considered:

• Recurrent infections: For women experiencing frequent or persistent vaginal infections that don’t respond to standard treatments
• Non-albicans Candida infections: In cases where the yeast infection is caused by less common strains of Candida
• Combination therapy: Used alongside prescription medications to enhance treatment efficacy

It’s important to note that boric acid should only be used under the guidance of a healthcare professional, as improper use can lead to serious side effects.

Alternative Home Remedies for Vaginal Health

Given the potential risks associated with boric acid, many women seek safer alternatives for managing vaginal health at home. While these remedies may not replace medical treatment, they can potentially help maintain overall vaginal health:

Probiotics

Probiotics, either taken orally or applied vaginally, may help maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in the vagina. Look for products containing Lactobacillus species, which are naturally present in a healthy vaginal microbiome.

Yogurt

Some women find relief by applying plain, unsweetened yogurt to the vulva or inserting it into the vagina. The live cultures in yogurt may help restore balance to the vaginal flora.

Tea Tree Oil

When diluted properly, tea tree oil has antifungal properties that may help combat yeast infections. However, it should never be applied directly to the skin without dilution.

Garlic

While controversial, some studies suggest that garlic has antimicrobial properties that could help fight vaginal infections. However, inserting whole cloves of garlic into the vagina is not recommended and can cause irritation.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Adding apple cider vinegar to a bath may help restore the vaginal pH balance. However, it should never be applied directly to the vagina, as it can cause severe irritation.

It’s crucial to remember that while these home remedies may provide some relief, they are not substitutes for professional medical treatment. Always consult with a healthcare provider before trying any new treatment for vaginal infections.

Preventing Vaginal Infections

Prevention is often the best approach when it comes to maintaining vaginal health. Here are some tips to help reduce the risk of developing bacterial vaginosis or yeast infections:

• Practice good hygiene: Avoid douching and use mild, unscented soaps to clean the external genital area
• Wear breathable underwear: Choose cotton or other natural, breathable fabrics
• Avoid tight-fitting clothing: Tight clothes can create a warm, moist environment that promotes bacterial and fungal growth
• Change out of wet clothes promptly: This includes swimsuits and workout gear
• Maintain a healthy diet: A balanced diet rich in probiotics may help maintain vaginal health
• Practice safe sex: Use condoms and avoid multiple sexual partners to reduce the risk of infection
• Avoid scented products: Perfumed tampons, pads, and vaginal deodorants can disrupt the natural balance of vaginal flora

By following these preventive measures, you can significantly reduce your risk of developing vaginal infections and maintain overall vaginal health.

When to Seek Medical Attention

While home remedies and over-the-counter treatments can be tempting, it’s important to know when to seek professional medical advice. Consider consulting a healthcare provider if:

• You’re experiencing symptoms of a vaginal infection for the first time
• Your symptoms persist or worsen despite home treatment
• You have recurring infections (more than four yeast infections in a year)
• You’re pregnant and suspect you have a vaginal infection
• You experience unusual symptoms such as fever, severe pain, or unusual discharge
• You have a known or suspected sexually transmitted infection

A healthcare professional can accurately diagnose your condition and prescribe the most appropriate treatment, ensuring your vaginal health is properly managed.

In conclusion, while boric acid has gained popularity as a home remedy for vaginal infections, its use comes with significant risks and limitations. Prescription treatments remain the safest and most effective option for most cases of bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections. Always consult with a healthcare provider before attempting any new treatment for vaginal health concerns. By staying informed and seeking professional guidance, you can effectively manage your vaginal health and overall well-being.

Do boric acid suppositories and washes work for bacterial vaginosis or yeast infections?

Lately, people on social media have been pushing the benefits of boric acid use as an at-home treatment for bacterial vaginosis or BV, and yeast infections. But do the claims live up to the hype? Is it safe?

Sometimes it isn’t always easy to separate fact from fiction regarding home remedies. Here we take a closer look and provide some advice from Nebraska Medicine OB-GYN Katherine Lessman, MD.

Bacterial vaginosis or yeast infection? How to know

BV is a common vaginal infection that causes a bacterial imbalance. When normal vaginal bacteria overgrow, you may or may not notice any symptoms. You may notice vaginal discharge, a strong odor or irritation when you urinate.

A yeast infection occurs when the fungus candida overgrows. Symptoms typically include an itchy or burning sensation in and around your vagina, a thick, white vaginal discharge, vaginal and vulva redness, swelling, or burning while urinating.

What’s the difference?

Both conditions are vaginal infections, and the symptoms tend to trend toward patterns. Symptoms can overlap and can even mimic one another.

• Irritation and burning: BV doesn’t always include these symptoms, but yeast infections do
• Discharge: BV usually has a “fishy” smell. Yeast infections don’t typically have a strong smell but have a cottage cheese appearance

Do boric acid suppositories, or washes effectively treat bacterial vaginosis or yeast infections?

“Boric acid is a relatively simple treatment with a complicated reputation,” says Dr. Lessman. “It can be helpful and even important in a few specific contexts, but it’s rarely a first-line treatment. For yeast and bacterial vaginosis, prescription treatments are the most effective and are actually safer than boric acid.”

Boric acid may be helpful for resistant or recurrent vaginal infections when combined with a prescription antifungal or antibiotic. Most yeast infections are caused by candida albicans, so boric acid may be helpful for the exception – when caused by a less common yeast like candida glabrata. Since you don’t know what type is causing your problem, visiting your doctor for ongoing or reoccurring infections is best.

Are boric acid washes and suppositories safe? There are drawbacks

“Boric acid isn’t well regulated or thoroughly studied,” says Dr. Lessman. “Clinical studies were performed with boric acid suppositories made by compounding pharmacies. The commercially available formulations should be the same, but they haven’t proven that they deliver on their claims. And this is worse for the rinses or washes, whose drug delivery and efficacy is a mystery.” 

Additional downsides:

• Boric acid is highly toxic if swallowed. Suppositories are usually pills that are placed in a body cavity instead of being swallowed, but consuming a single pill can be fatal
• Boric acid can cause dramatic irritation, even to the point of chemical burn. Burns are not expected with daily use but are possible 
• Sexual partners may report skin irritation
• Boric acid is not recommended for pregnant women or those trying to get pregnant. Actual studies are lacking on this point. Still, if a single pill can be fatal to an adult, even a tiny amount that is absorbed vaginally isn’t wise for the health of a developing embryo

Have a woman’s health concern? Reach out to one of our experts. Call 800.922.0000 to make an appointment with one of our expert OB-GYNs.

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Boric Acid Side Effects | pH-D Feminine Health

One of the most common issues surrounding vaginal health and wellness is managing vaginal odor. Because the vulva and vagina are generally moist, warm, and not exposed to much light and covered by some layers of clothing, it is normal that it may have a natural, mild odor that is mostly unnoticeable. But certain triggers can cause the odor to be stronger at times, such as heavy sweating, wearing a wet swimsuit for long periods of time, and wearing tight clothing. Unfortunately, many women feel embarrassed about their vaginal odor and hesitate to seek professional guidance on ways to properly care for and manage their vaginal health. There are several myths and no lack of inaccurate and false information about vaginal health, support, and management, so finding a reliable and safe source of information to care for this incredibly sensitive area is extremely important, especially if you’re unable to consult with a healthcare professional immediately.

The vaginal area, including the labia and vulva (the outer, exposed area), contains sweat glands and a unique microbiome of healthy bacteria that keep the area healthy, lubricated, and protected from harmful bacteria that can cause vaginal infection. Odor is one of the most common feminine care concerns women bring to their healthcare providers, and pH-D’s goal is to normalize the conversation about vaginal odor because many women feel shame about it. A holistic solution for this problem is vaginal boric acid products, which are safe as well as doctor recommended. pH-D Feminine Health vaginal products that include boric acid are available at over 45,000 commercial retailers nationwide, including Publix, CVS, Walmart, Walgreens, Kroger, Target, HEB, Meijer, and Amazon.

Boric acid has many uses and is a weak acid that is water soluble. It is a very common, accessible ingredient with many uses due to it being a natural compound found in seawater.

One of pH-D’s most popular and #1 doctor recommended products on the market is Boric Acid Vaginal Suppositories. These suppositories are small capsules of dissolvable bovine gelatin containing a recommended 600 mg of boric acid to be inserted into the vagina as a holistic solution for vaginal odor and overall vaginal wellness. Insert one vaginal boric acid per day until you are odor free. If you are prone to vaginal odor, you can insert 2-4 suppositories per week. It is safe to use boric acid suppositories on a regular basis for vaginal odor.

So what is boric acid? For those who are unfamiliar, boric acid is a common compound that is found in seawater. It is a compound that has been used for over 100 years. In its purest form, boric acid is a white powder that is both colorless and odorless. Boric acid powder is a common and safe ingredient when used as directed. It is used in a variety of cosmetic products as well as feminine care products to help control vaginal odor.

Using boric acid is not the same as internal vaginal cleansing. Certain methods, such as using heavily scented soaps, mask odors instead of neutralizing them and can cause irritation. Boric acid suppositories contain one simple ingredient: boric acid, which is proven to assist with odor. Different feminine products containing boric acid have different uses, but all involve controlling vaginal odor. Boric Acid Moisturizing Suppositories include Vitamin E and coconut oil for the added benefit of moisture and aid in feeling comfortable. Holistic Body Wipes are great for everyday, on-the-go use to freshen up and gently cleanse the exterior part of the vagina (the vulva). pH-D Feminine Health was the first brand to make Boric Acid Suppositories available to women in 2014, and we’ve continued to grow our product offerings to make sure there’s a boric acid solution that fits into every woman’s lifestyle!

It is important that you know how to insert boric acid suppositories properly. Boric acid can be harmful if swallowed, but it can be safely used in vaginal suppository form by women as a solution for vaginal odor. If you are pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding, you should not use boric acid. Keep in mind that you should never use boric acid or other similar suppositories if you have sores, ulcerations, open wounds, or if you have a sensitivity or allergy.

While boric acid has been long recommended for vaginal health, it’s important to understand its possible side effects. Read on to learn more.

You should be aware of the side effects that boric acid suppositories can have. Often harmless, the most common side effects include:

•   Mild burning or redness and irritation. This may occur if the boric acid suppository was not inserted far enough into the vagina or if you have any irritated tissue in the vagina or vulvar area.
•   Watery vaginal discharge or leakage. Wearing a panty liner is recommended.

If you are wondering, “Why does boric acid cause watery discharge?” read our guide.

Do not use boric acid suppositories or stop using them immediately if you have:

•   Any signs of an allergic reaction. Some women do experience minor irritation. 
•   If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
•   Any new or worsening symptoms, or symptoms that go away and come back.
•   Any open sores, wounds, or ulcerations in your vaginal area
•   Pain or tenderness in your pelvis or lower abdomen
•   Vaginal bleeding not related to menstruation
•   Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
•   An active sexually transmitted infection or disease
•   Of the age before you begin your menstrual cycle

If you use Nuvaring® vaginal birth control, we are not aware of the potential impact boric acid may have on its effectiveness, so consult with your healthcare provider or the manufacturer of Nuvaring® before use.

Boric acid suppositories can be safely used with an intrauterine device (IUD) birth control.

A small percentage of women experience spotting or bleeding when using boric acid suppositories. It is safe to continue use if you are comfortable doing so and if the bleeding is slight. However, if it worsens or you begin to experience vaginal irritation, burning, or more pronounced bleeding, we recommend you discontinue use and consult with a physician. Can you use boric acid on your period? It is safe to use boric acid on your period, but if you are not comfortable, wait until your period ends to use them again. 

It is safe to have sexual intercourse and oral sex once the boric acid suppository has completely dissolved. This can take anywhere from 4-12 hours. If you have sexual intercourse or oral sex before the boric acid suppository has completely dissolved, there may be some mild irritation or burning for your partner. Additionally, with oral sex, it is recommended to wait until the boric acid suppository is completely dissolved, as there is potential for your partner to ingest a small amount if not dissolved completely.  

Boric acid may break down the effectiveness of a condom, so again, it is recommended that the boric acid suppository is completely dissolved before having intercourse with a condom.

Boric acid suppositories will not prevent or treat any sexually transmitted disease, sexually transmitted infection, or pregnancy.

Recent research has shown that no serious side effects have been reported when boric acid solution is used as directed as a holistic vaginal suppository for vaginal odor. Do not take boric acid vaginal suppositories by mouth or insert a suppository if you have open wounds, ulcerations, or lacerations on the vulva, labia, or inside the vagina. Keep this item safely out of the reach of children. If swallowed, seek immediate medical attention.

pH-D Boric Acid Vaginal Suppositories are the #1 doctor recommended brand of boric acid vaginal suppositories with over 10,000 clinics recommending pH-D Boric Acid Suppositories to their patients. Take on each day feeling your most confident and comfortable!

Do you have other pressing questions about boric acid vaginal suppositories? We would love to hear from you! You can reach us at info@phdfemininehealth. com.

As a result of an unsuccessful experiment in the museum, four children and one adult were injured

A flask exploded during an experiment with “cold fire” in the museum’s “Sphere” museum in the hands of a museum employee. Five children were hurt. A museum employee’s arm was torn off. Now he is in intensive care. A criminal case has been initiated under the article “violation of the rules for the use of explosives”.

On Wednesday in Moscow in the Museum of Science and Technology “Sphere”, located at Ivan Franko Street, 22, building 1, there was an explosion. The incident happened around 13.00 during the Meet the Robot tour. An employee of the museum demonstrated an experiment with “cold fire” to the children who came on an excursion.

For unknown reasons, a flask with chemicals exploded in the hands of an employee. Five children were with him at that moment (how many children took part in the excursion is unknown).

According to RIA Novosti, a museum employee’s arm was torn off during the explosion. All five children, according to news agencies, were also injured.

As Anatoly Kostin, deputy head of the Internal Affairs Directorate for ZAO Anatoly Kostin, told Gazeta.Ru, the 23-year-old museum employee who conducted the chemical experiment was the most injured in the explosion.

“He was taken to city hospital No. 71 with a serious injury,” Kostin said. “He is currently in intensive care.” According to Gazeta.Ru, the injured museum worker has a higher education in chemistry and biology, and worked for several years at the Polytechnic Museum. The Investigative Committee for Moscow reported that now the guide worked as a teacher of chemistry and biology.

Five injured children were also hospitalized. They were sent to the Morozov children’s hospital “to determine the severity of the injuries.”

The youngest of the hospitalized is six years old and lives in Moscow. The remaining four (they are between 10 and 12 years old) came to the museum from a recreation camp near Moscow. “In order to visit the exhibition, they contacted the museum via the Internet,” Kostin said.

Later, the Investigative Committee for Moscow reported that only four senior tourists were injured. According to the investigation, the boys – students of the “World of Knowledge” school – had cut wounds on their hands and heads.

According to law enforcement officers, the Sphere Museum is not a municipal institution, it is a private enterprise. “Currently, experts are working at the scene of the incident, who are establishing what substance was used in the experiment,” Kostin said. – It is established whether this person had the right to show experiments. We check the documents confirming the legitimacy of the organization of the museum.”

A criminal case has been initiated under Art. 218 of the Criminal Code (violation of the rules for the use of explosives), the investigation of which was transferred to the Main Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee for Moscow.

The museum refuses to comment.

According to the museum’s website, “as in a real laboratory, the Sphere Museum is supposed to experiment.” There are four exhibitions dedicated to robots, telephones, photographic equipment and microscopes. All exhibits are allowed to be touched. On the “Meet the Robot” excursion, where you can bring children from five years old, they talk about the principles of operation and design of robots. The site does not say anything about the experiments that are carried out during the tour.

“Cold fire” is a very common chemical experiment on the combustion of acid esters, which can be carried out even at home.

A “cold” flame is characterized by a slow burning rate, with heat being removed from the reaction sphere faster than is released during combustion. As a result, the average temperature for some types of “cold fire” does not exceed several tens of degrees Celsius (ordinary fire has a temperature of about 1000 degrees). The most common experiment of this kind is the combustion of boric acid ethyl ester. To do this, you need to mix alcohol and acid plus hydrochloric or sulfuric acid. This is how cold flames are produced. However, if for some reason there is too much alcohol in the system (for example, it was added in excess), then after the ether burns out, the alcohol itself will begin to burn. It is already burning with the usual “hot” fire with all the ensuing consequences.

Commissioner for Children’s Rights Pavel Astakhov has already stated that he instructed the capital’s Children’s Ombudsman Yevgeny Bunimovich “to take the matter under personal control and, if necessary, provide assistance to the victims.” The commissioner stated that it was not clear why safety measures were not observed during experiments with especially dangerous substances in the museum. “Children had to be provided with goggles and overalls. Astakhov noted. – Experiments should be carried out behind a partition so that fragments of flasks and poisonous substances cannot injure the audience. The safety of children must be an absolute priority. And all those who violate security measures must be held accountable.”

PERFECT BORONIC ACID | Science and life

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There is an opinion that drugs that have been used for a long time cannot bring harm, since they are, as it were, evaluated and tested by life itself. But the infallibility of old medicines is a myth. An example of this is boric acid. From the end of the 19th century to the present day, it has been widely used in home medicine. Meanwhile, this outwardly harmless white powder sometimes causes severe poisoning in young children.

The beginning of the era of antiseptics in surgery is considered to be 1865, when the English surgeon Joseph Lister published an article in the Lancet magazine about a new method for treating surgical wounds using carbolic acid (colloquially known as carbolic acid). Carbolic was effective in killing germs, but had many drawbacks, the worst of which was its toxicity.

Shortly after this event, the French chemist Jean Baptiste Dumas discovered antiseptic properties in boric acid, which did not irritate wounds, did not stain linen, did not smell badly like carbolic acid, did not even have a taste. That is why many of the “home” and clinical antiseptics known at that time, like hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate and carbolic acid, were increasingly replaced by boric acid. As it turned out – in vain.

In the modern textbook on pharmacology by D. A. Kharkevich, about four lines are devoted to boric acid. Including this: “The antimicrobial activity of boric acid is low.”

Indeed: if boric acid, according to M. D. Mashkovsky, has an antimicrobial effect at a minimum concentration of 2%, then potassium permanganate is 0.1, ethacridine is 0.05, furacillin is 0.01, and chlorhexidine is only 0.005 %. Consequently, we have (and, in fact, have had for a long time) antiseptics that are 20-400 times more active than acid!

Lack of taste, odor and irritant effect gave boric acid the false reputation of a harmless substance. However, toxicologists have shown that the trace element boron belongs to the group of so-called general cell poisons. Only the high stability of boric acid in the human body makes it relatively harmless. But a small amount of boric acid is still split. In acute poisoning of people, it affects the brain, mucous membranes and skin, and in chronic poisoning, hematopoietic and germ cells. Boric acid is especially dangerous for developing embryos. Even the intake of a single non-toxic dose in the mother’s body can cause pathological changes in the fetus.

Due to low efficiency and high toxicity, boric acid eventually left hospital wards, where they don’t really care about the appearance, smell and taste of the drug – there would be an effect, and moved into the number of exclusively home remedies, the pleasantness of which is often valued higher their usefulness. In most home first aid kits, one can still find one or another medicinal or cosmetic product with boric acid: powders, an aqueous solution for washing eyes, an alcohol solution for instillation into the ears, boron ointment, boron vaseline, boron soap and even mineral water with boron. And many of them are for children…

The first description of the death of a child from boric acid poisoning, which I found in a medical journal, is dated 1881. In 1905, the first (scientific) review was published, which already described 22 deaths.

Paradoxically, but the spread of strict hygienic rules for child care contributed to the increase in poisoning. So, after the Second World War, every young mother purchased boric acid powder in a pharmacy. Then its use for regular treatment of the mucous membranes and skin of the child, as well as the mother’s nipples before feeding, was synonymous with high household culture.

The result was not long in coming. The Journal of Pediatrics (No. 6, 1953, Canada) published a report on 102 deaths caused by the use of boric acid. The British Medical Journal (No. 1, 1955) reported 120; “German Medical Journal” (vol. 87, 1962) – about 60, “French Journal of Therapy” (No. 3, 1980) – about 79 cases of death of children. Poisoning arose as a result of the most seemingly innocent actions of parents and doctors: wiping the mother’s nipples with an acid solution before feeding, sprinkling wet skin surfaces, and treating the oral mucosa.

Being a pediatrician by training and a pharmacologist by profession, the author of this article
participated in writing a guide for doctors “Poisoning in childhood”,
published in 1961, 1977 and 1999, which indicated the possibility of poisoning
children with boric acid. Then a textbook for students of pediatric faculties came out
– it lists drugs that are contraindicated in newborns. Among them –
boric acid. Nevertheless, its popularity among the population and children’s doctors
did not decrease at all. This prompted me to write the article “When adults
medicines are dangerous for children”, which was published in the journal “Science and Life”
(No. 5, 1983). The reaction was stormy. Many abusive letters came, reproaching
me in complete illiteracy, including even signed by the head of the Chief
medical care management.

Before I sat down to answer my respected boss, a fresh issue of the journal “Archive of Childhood Diseases” (No. 9, 1983, Great Britain) appeared on the shelves of libraries, almost entirely devoted to boric acid. R. Illingworth, a leading pediatrician in England, described a case of convulsions in an infant after using a solution of borax in glycerin to treat thrush.

In the same issue of the journal I was interested in the article by M. O’Sullivan “Chronic boric acid poisoning in infants”. Since the British Pediatric Association has not recommended the use of boric acid since 1966, according to the author, the number of childhood poisonings has decreased in recent years. Nevertheless, he advised always to check the presence of boric acid in the blood serum if the child has incomprehensible symptoms, when intestinal upset and inflammation of the brain are combined with fever and rash.

Such a case has also been described. One of the Dublin pharmacies produced a special sweet syrup for rinsing pacifiers with boric acid added as a preservative. Soon, 13 infants were brought to the hospital, one after the other, with vomiting and convulsions. It turned out that for 4-10 weeks, the children were given nipples rinsed in a new syrup. The content of boric acid in the serum of their blood at the time of admission to the hospital was more than 8 μg/ml, while the concentration of 80 μg/ml is fatal. A high concentration of boric acid in children was maintained for 10 weeks. Fortunately, all the children recovered.

The appearance of these articles made me, in the literal sense of the word, sound the alarm. To this I was told that not a single case of boric acid poisoning had been registered in our country. I argued that our children could not be so fundamentally different from other children. They objected to me: if there were no poisonings, then they are different. I became interested in how often the blood of children admitted with symptoms of severe poisoning is examined in hospitals for the content of boric acid in it. It turned out – almost never. This is the reason for the lack of cases of boric acid poisoning.

A lethal dose of boric acid for an adult is 5-20 grams. A large scatter is obtained due to the fact that the acid is excreted through the kidneys unchanged. They work well – poisoning is easily tolerated, badly – it is extremely difficult to save from it. Children have a relative underdevelopment of renal functions – this is a purely physiological pattern. And the younger the child, the more pronounced this underdevelopment. Hence it turns out that boric acid is the most dangerous for newborns, and with age, the risk of poisoning gradually decreases. Therefore, the use of boric acid for the treatment of newborns should be strictly prohibited. For infants, it can only be used in a hospital with mandatory monitoring of its content in the blood. It should be remembered that with diseased kidneys, boric acid should not be given to either children or adults. For children older than a year, it is possible to use boric acid in the form of solutions and ointments, but taking into account that the total dose, regardless of the duration of use, does not exceed two grams. For example, one drop of its 2% solution contains one milligram of the substance.