Health Care Encyclopedia
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Nitric acidDefinition: Poisoning from exposure to nitric acid.
Poisonous Ingredient: Nitric acid
Where Found: - Agents used to clean metals (such as gun barrels)
- Electroplating systems
- Fertilizer manufacturing
Note: This list may not be all inclusive.
Symptoms: From swallowing: - Body as a whole
- Severe pain in the mouth
- Burns to skin or mouth
- Fever
- Respiratory
- Inability to breathe due to the throat swelling shut
- Severe pain in the throat
- Ggastrointestinal
- Rapid drop in blood pressure
From inhalation:
Home Treatment: DO NOT make a person throw up (vomit). If the acid is on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes. If the acid was swallowed, give water or milk IMMEDIATELY. If the patient is vomiting, keep giving water or milk. Give milk of magnesia, 4 to 6 oz., if possible. For inhalation poisoning, move the patient to fresh air.
Before Calling Emergency: Determine the following: - The patient's age, weight, and condition
- The name of the product (and ingredients and strengths, if known)
- The time it was swallowed, inhaled, or touched
- The amount swallowed, inhaled, or touched
Poison Control, or a local emergency number: If you suspect possible poisoning, call 1-800-222-1222 anywhere in the U.S. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions. This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the U.S. use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Take any containers with you to the emergency room, if possible. See Poison Control centers.
What to expect at the emergency room:
Expectations (prognosis): Prognosis depends on the amount and route of acid exposure. Extensive damage to the mouth, throat, and stomach are possible. The ultimate outcome depends on the extent of this damage.
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| Review Date: 2/19/2005
Reviewed By: William D. Whetstone M.D., Division of Emergency Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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