Paints - emulsion type
Key points
- Home Treatment For any ingestion, seek emergency medical care immediately.
- Poison Control, or a local emergency number See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses.
- Extensive damage to the mouth, throat, and stomach are possible.
- If the person is conscious, give milk or water to dilute the hydrocarbon.
Definition
This poisoning is from an ingestion of emulsion paints.
Poisonous Ingredient
Hydrocarbons
Where Found
Paints
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
Home Treatment
For any ingestion, seek emergency medical care immediately. DO NOT INDUCE Vomiting. If the person is conscious, give milk or water to dilute the hydrocarbon.
Before Calling Emergency
Determine the following information:
- The patient's age, weight, and condition
- Name of product (as well as the ingredients and strength, 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 poison
o Placement of a tube down the nose and into the stomach (a nasogastric tube, or an NG tube) to wash out the stomach
o Activated charcoal administration
o 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
Gerald Hurowitz, 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.