MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Watercolors

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Watercolors

Contents of this page:
Alternative Names Definition Poisonous Ingredient Where Found Symptoms	Home Care Before Calling Emergency Poison Control What to Expect at the Emergency Room Outlook (Prognosis)

Alternative Names

Paint - watercolors

Definition Return to top

This is poisoning caused by eating or swallowing watercolor paints.

Poisonous Ingredient Return to top

Aniline
Gum cambogia

Note: Watercolor paints sold for home use are generally considered non-poisonous.

Where Found Return to top

Various watercolor paints and paint kits

Note: This list is not all inclusive.

Symptoms Return to top

Several tubes of the artist's watercolors need to be eaten before symptoms occur.

Home Care Return to top

If the chemical was swallowed, immediately give the person water or milk, unless instructed otherwise by a health care provider. DO NOT give water or milk if the patient is having symptoms (such as vomiting, convulsions, or a decreased level of alertness) that make it hard to swallow.

Use soap and water to wash any paint off skin and clothes.

Before Calling Emergency Return to top

Determine the following information:

The patient's age, weight, and condition
The name of the product (as well as the ingredients and strength, if known)
The time it was swallowed
The amount swallowed

Poison Control Return to top

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the U.S. use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.

See National Poison Control center.

What to Expect at the Emergency Room Return to top

A trip to the emergency room will normally not be necessary.

However, if the poisoning requires medical help, some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

Fluids
Medicines to treat symptoms
Medicines to cause vomiting
Activated charcoal
Laxative
A nasogastric (NG) tube thru the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage)
Breathing assistance

Outlook (Prognosis) Return to top

For home water colors -- Recovery very likely.
For aniline -- Recovery is normally very likely if patient can survive the first 24 hours.
For gum cambogia -- Survival past 48 hours usually indicates recovery will occur.

Update Date: 5/11/2006

Updated by: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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