Gentian Violet Toxicity

Currently, the use of 1 % and 2 % aqueous solutions of gentian violet (GV) is an acceptable treatment of thrush in infants. GV is generally considered efficacious; in fact, one study found GV superior to nystatin in treating thrush in infants. 1 Oral nystatin is usually prescribed as the first-line drug for this infection, while GV is commonly reserved for nystatin failures. Although GV is widely regarded as an essentially harmless medication, we present a case of GV toxicity and review the literature on this subject.