A mother has issued a cautionary alert to other parents about the dangers of exposing their children to lime juice after her son was hospitalized with severe blisters and burns on his arms from the acidic citrus fruit. The mother shared her warning in a local Facebook group on the north coast of NSW and explained that the injuries occurred several days after her son and his cousins had been squeezing limes at their house.
Despite no initial symptoms, the mother became concerned upon seeing his arms covered in burns and immediately took him to the hospital. The mother posted a picture on Facebook of her son sitting in a hospital chair, displaying burns and blisters all over both arms. She also revealed that her son had experienced a rare reaction called a "margarita burn."
The mother wrote on Facebook that after spending a night in the hospital and visiting the burns unit, they learned that the injury was due to a margarita burn, a reaction between lime juice and UV light. She added that many Brazilians were familiar with this reaction, but some doctors and nurses were not, and a nurse only identified it at Byron hospital.
Baby, Burn, Blisters, and Blood
The mother ended her warning with, "Beware, limes and sun don't mix!" Margarita burn, also known as phytophotodermatitis, results from the interaction between substances in limes and sunlight. Limes contain irritants that increase the skin's sensitivity to UV rays, leading to the quick development of boils and burns on the skin.
Social media users quickly expressed surprise at the response and wished the boy a speedy recovery. Some users also had the same experience and hoped for the boy's safety. Another individual claimed that it was a prevalent condition that they were taught as children in Brazil.
Another parent revealed that her toddler Otis had developed painful burns, so the mother is not the only one whose child was burned. A popular summer pastime, especially during Cinco de Mayo celebrations, is to sip a margarita in the sun. However, these drinks pose a health hazard beyond a grueling hangover. If you get a stray drop of lime juice on your skin, it can cause second-degree burns and itchy rashes. It is phytophotodermatitis, more commonly referred to as a "margarita burn." The reason for these burns is precisely stated in the official name, as per Healthline.
The Tiny Hearts Foundation shared photographs showing a burn covering the child's chest and blisters and blood.
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"Margarita Burn"
When a chemical called furocoumarin reacts with sunlight, it causes margarita burns. Celery, figs, fennel, and several other plants contain this chemical, as do limes and citrus fruits. Typically, a rash develops within 24 hours of exposure to a Margarita. A day or two later, the rash may develop into a cluster of painful blisters at the point of contact. Post-inflammatory pigmentation, or dark patches or streaks that appear after the swelling has subsided, typically covers the blisters and lasts for several weeks or months.
According to the Tiny Hearts Foundation, the child's chest was photographed with a burn, blisters, and blood. The Tiny Hearts Foundation is a company that teaches parents about first aid courses and raises awareness about them. The foundation provided advice on who might experience the reaction.
The foundation cautioned everyone to remember that everyone will experience phytophotodermatitis right after exposure to furocoumarin and added that children should always wear sunscreen and wash their hands and any areas exposed to the sun, as reported by The DailyMail.
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