Boric acid (Acidum boricum) is a popular substance, widely used because of its antiseptic and keratoplastic properties in topical preparations for the skin, in eye drops and in other external solutions. When prescribing or recommending boric acid, it is necessary to take into account the more than 20 years of knowledge of the toxicity of this substance, which is the reason for contraindications for its use for children under 10 years of age.
When prescribing boric acid to patients, it is, therefore, necessary to consider the potential risks of the treatment, its duration and the scope of the areas to which the product will be applied, as well as an appropriate concentration of the active substance. In the professional literature, we can often find information about the lethal toxicity of this substance for children, so the easiest solution is, beyond doubt, to completely eliminate its use in pediatric practice.
Solutio laglyk RDP
For the treatment of diaper rash and eczema, the Solutio Jarisch (2% boric acid) is widely used. Solutio Jarisch can be replaced with a solution containing lactic acid, sodium lactate and glycerol.
| Rp. | Ac.lactici | 1,0 |
| Natrii lactatis sol.50% | 4,0 | |
| Glyceroli 85% | 40,0 | |
| Natrii chloridi | 8,6 | |
| Aq.purif. | ad 1000,0 | |
| M.f.sol. | ||
| D.S. | Several times daily onto the diapers |
Infichtol
Another popular preparation, generally used to treat baby rashes, contains 1% boric acid and ichtamol pityol. In the formula that eliminates boric acid, you can adjust your concentration of ichtamol appropriately to the child's age (1%-2%), and, depending on the patient's tolerance, use mineral or vegetable oil.
| Rp. | Ichtammoli | 2,0 |
| Zinci oxidi | 20,0 | |
| Olivae ol.raffin. | 15,0 | |
| Vaselini albi | ad 100,0 | |
| M.f. | ung. | |
| D.S. | According to symptoms, 1-3 times daily |
Solutio sobudil RDP
A 3% boric acid solution is used in disinfecting compresses, and can be replaced by an aqueous Burow solution (containing acetate and aluminum tartrate). The product can be used for drying and dampening compresses, as a solution against rinses, stopping wetting and itching, and because of having a weak anti-inflammatory effect.
Does not contain antimicrobial additives.
| Rp. | Aluminii acetotatratis sol. | 5,0 |
| Natrii chloridi | 14,0 | |
| Aq.purif. | ad 1000,0 | |
| M.f. | sol. | |
| D.S. | Several times daily onto the diapers |
Sklenář Z Riziková léčiva v pediatrické dermatologické magistraliter receptuře a jejich vhodné alternativy, Ped. pro praxi; 2010; 11(4)