A COMMON food has left a baby boy with some agonising burns, a mum has warned.
Sharing the pictures on her little boy online, the mum is calling on parents to be on the look out for the little-known condition.
Instagram – Tiny Hearts EducationOtis’ parents initially thought the burn was an allergic reaction[/caption]
Instagram – Tiny Hearts EducationLime juice left Otis with a nasty burn (pictured|) called phytophotodermatitis[/caption]
Little Otis was playing with a lime while sat outside in the sunshine with his cousins, the mum explained in a Tiny Hearts Education post on Instagram.
“It wasn’t until [the next day] that we noticed a rash appear on his chest,” she said.
The rash, which the parents initially thought was an allergic reaction to the lime juice, quickly developed into a “horrific burn”, she added.
The parents took Otis to the hospital, where doctors revealed the little boy was suffering with a little-known condition called phytophotodermatitis.
Phytophotodermatitis – more commonly known as margarita burn – is a burn which happens when a chemical called furocoumarin reacts with sunlight.
This chemical is found in limes, citrus fruit and some plants.
“We now have ongoing appointments with our local paediatric burns team for ongoing management to ensure no long-term scaring and implications,” the mum said.
“I hope by sharing my story I can raise some awareness about phytophotodermatitis and the importance of watching little ones around any citrus fruits,” she added.
Parents flocked to the comments to thank the mum for sharing her story.
One user wrote: “Oh my goodness, how scary! Thanks for sharing and I hope Otis is on the mend.”
Another said: “I had no idea. Hope your little man is ok and thanks for sharing.”
One user shared her experienced of phytophotodermatitis: “I once had what looked like hickeys over my neck and wrists.
“It took me a couple of days to do some research and find it was the citrus perfume I had sprayed on and then gone into the sun – it left ugly marks on me for months.”
How to prevent phytophotodermatitis
It’s important to remember that not everyone will experience phytophotodermatitis after exposure to furocoumarin.
But your little one may be at a greater risk if you have a history of contact dermatitis with other substances, such as metals and cleaning agents.
According to Healthline, here is how to prevent the burn from occuring in both adults and children:
Wash your hands and other exposed parts of the skin immediately after being outdoorsWear gloves when gardeningWear pants and long sleeves in wooded areasPut sunscreen on before heading outdoors (prevent rash from exposed hands) Read More