Sulfuric acid poisoning refers to ingestion of
sulfuric acid
Sulfuric acid (American spelling and the preferred IUPAC name) or sulphuric acid (English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth spelling), known in antiquity as oil of vitriol, is a mineral acid composed of the elements sulfur, oxygen, ...
, found in
lead-acid batteries and some metal cleaners, pool cleaners,
drain cleaner
A drain cleaner, also known as drain opener, refers to a person, device, or product used to unblock sewer pipes or clear clogged wastewater drains. This term typically applies to chemical, enzymatic, or mechanical tools such as commercial chemical ...
s and anti-rust products.
Signs and symptoms
* Brown to black streak from angle of mouth
* Brown to black vomitus
* Brown to
black stomach wall
* Black swollen tongue
* White (chalky white) teeth
* Blotting paper appearance of stomach mucosa
* Ulceration of esophagus (fibrosis and stricture)
* Perforation of stomach.
* The stomach resembles a black spongy mass on post mortem
Treatment
For superficial injuries, washing (
therapeutic irrigation) is important. Emergency treatments include protecting the airway, which might involve a
tracheostomy
Tracheotomy (, ), or tracheostomy, is a surgical airway management procedure which consists of making an incision on the front of the neck to open a direct airway to the trachea. The resulting stoma (hole) can serve independently as an airway ...
. Further treatment will vary depending on the severity, but might include investigations to determine the extent of damage (
bronchoscopy for the airways and endoscopy for the gastrointestinal tract), followed by treatments including surgery (to
debride and repair) and intravenous fluids.
Gastric lavage
Gastric lavage, also commonly called stomach pumping or gastric irrigation or gastric suction, is the process of cleaning out the contents of the stomach using a tube. Since its first recorded use in the early 19th century, it has become one of the ...
is contraindicated in corrosive acid poisoning like sulfuric acid poisoning. Bicarbonate is also contraindicated as it liberates carbon dioxide which can cause gastric dilatation leading to rupture of stomach, leading to severe abominal damage or death.
See also
*
Acid attack
References
External links
Sulphuric acid: Toxicological overviewSulfuric acid poisoningon Penn Medicine
on Medline Plus
{{Poisoning and toxicity
Toxic effects of substances chiefly nonmedicinal as to source
Chemical weapons attacks