Drainpipe cleaners
Key points
- This poisoning is from an ingestion or inhalation of a drainpipe cleaner.
- Home Treatment Seek emergency medical care immediately.
- Poison Control, or a local emergency number See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses.
- The prognosis (probable outcome) depends on how rapidly the alkali was diluted.
Definition
This poisoning is from an ingestion or inhalation of a drainpipe cleaner.
Poisonous Ingredient
Corrosive alkalis
Where Found
- Some drain cleaners
- Some aquarium products
Note: This list may not be all inclusive.
Symptoms
- Respiratory
o Breathing difficulty (from inhalation)
o Throat swelling (which may also cause breathing difficulty) - Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
o Severe pain in the throat
o Severe pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue
o Loss of vision - Gastrointestinal
o Severe abdominal pain
o Vomiting
o Burns of the esophagus (food pipe)
o Vomiting blood
o Blood in the stool - Heart and blood vessels
o Hypotension (low blood pressure) develops rapidly
o Collapse - Skin
o Irritation
o Burn
o Necrosis (holes) in the skin or underlying tissues - Blood
o Severe change in pH (too much or too little acid in the blood, which leads to damage in all of the body organs)
Home Treatment
Seek emergency medical care immediately. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. If the product is on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water. If the product was swallowed, give water or milk IMMEDIATELY.
Before Calling Emergency
Determine the following information:
- The patient's age, weight, and condition
- The name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
- The time it was swallowed
- The amount swallowed
Poison Control, or a local emergency number
See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room.
What to expect at the emergency room
Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:
- For swallowed poisono Placement of a tube down the nose and into the stomach (a nasogastric tube, or an NG tube) to wash out the stomacho Activated charcoal administrationo Endoscopy - the placement of a camera down the throat to see the extent of burns to the esophagus and the stomacho Give IV fluidso Admission to the hospitalo Give an antidoteo Treat the symptoms
Written and revised by
Andrey Nailor, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.