A fizzy drink caused my baby’s arm to erupt in angry blisters and 3rd degree burns – parents need to know the dangers
A MUM claims orangeade left her baby son with a third-degree burns and pus-filled blisters on his arm.
Majo “Ovz”’ was stunned to find out the fizzy drink could be to blame, after he son was left screaming in pain from his blistered arm.
She shared her little boy’s story to warn other parents about how food and drink might unwittingly cause burns.
Taking to TikTok earlier this month, she shared the horror tale with her 132,600 TikTok followers.
“One day, my baby woke up with his arm red, kind of like a mosquito bite, but it looked a bit swollen.
“He’s very fair-skinned and has been sensitive since birth, so I assumed that was it.
“But I noticed the area was hot to the touch, so then I thought it might be a horsefly bite because those cause the same reaction – redness, swelling, and warmth from the venom.”
Majo’s son was given bite relief medication and an allergy shot but he wouldn’t stop crying or screaming in pain.
The next day, the mum noticed he had blisters on his arm.
And more kept appearing.
Taking him to the doctor, she was stunned when a paediatrician reportedly told her it was a third-degree burn.
Majo said: “I couldn’t believe it.
“The doctor asked what we did a few days before.
“I told him that we went to the pool. I applied sunscreen. It was warm but cloudy.
“He asked what he ate, where he was, if he was exposed to any chemicals.
What to do if your child suffers a burn
IF A child suffers burn or scald, you should try to cool the burn as quickly as possible before seeking medical advice.
A burn can be caused by dry heat such as contact with fire, a hot iron, or exposure to the sun.
A scald can be caused by contact with wet heat, like steam or a hot cup of tea.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Stop the burning process as soon as possible. This may mean removing the child the area, dousing flames with water, or smothering flames with a blanket. Do not put yourself at risk of getting burnt as well.
- Remove any clothing or jewellery near the burnt area of skin, including babies’ nappies, but do not try to remove anything that’s stuck to the burnt skin, as this could cause more damage.
- Cool the burn with cool or lukewarm running water for 20 minutes as soon as possible after the injury. Never use ice, iced water, or any creams or greasy substances like butter.
- Keep yourself or the person warm. Use a blanket or layers of clothing, but avoid putting them on the injured area. Keeping warm will prevent hypothermia, where a person’s body temperature drops below 35C (95F). This is a risk if you’re cooling a large burnt area, particularly in young children and elderly people.
- Cover the burn with cling film. Lay the cling film over the burn, rather than wrapping it around a limb, as the area needs space to swell. A clean, clear plastic bag can be used for burns on your hand.
- Treat the pain from a burn with paracetamol or ibuprofen. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions when using over-the-counter medication. Children under 16 years of age should not be given aspirin.
- Raise the affected area, if possible. This will help to reduce swelling.
Once you’ve done the above, assess the burn to decide if further medical treatment is necessary.
Go to A&E for:
- Large burns bigger than the size of the affected person’s hand
- Deep burns of any size that cause white or charred skin
- Burns on the face, neck, hands, feet, any joints, or genitals
- All chemical and electrical burns
- Any other injuries that need treating
- Any signs of shock – symptoms include cold, clammy skin, sweating, rapid, shallow breathing, and weakness or dizziness
If your child is under the age of 10, take them to hospital.
Source: NHS
“I said no, just the pool.
“Then I remembered my son had an orangeade and I told him.
“He explained that any citrus fruit can burn the skin.”
Majo – from Mexico – believes her baby son must have spilled some of the drink on himself as he played in the sun.
The video was shared on 19 June.
The tot was eventually prescribed the correct treatment and his nasty rash began subsiding, as reported on NeedToKnow.
SUN SAFETY WARNING
The influencer warned: “If you’re in the sun and come into contact with any citrus, you need to wash thoroughly, put on sunscreen, and cover the area to keep it out of the sun.
“I share this information and inform other mums who, like me, didn’t know this was possible.
“This way, we can help prevent other families, especially children, from going through what my baby did.”
It follows another mum warning of the dangers of ‘margarita burns’, after her baby her baby was left with blistered cheeks and a red raw mouth from her celery stick snack.