Sodium hydroxide poisoning
Alternative Names
Lye poisoning; Caustic soda poisoning
Symptoms
- Airways and lungs
- Breathing difficulty (from inhalation)
- Lung inflammation
- Sneezing
- Throat swelling (which may also cause breathing difficulty)
- Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- Severe pain in the throat
- Severe pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue
- Vision loss
- Esophagus, intestines, and stomach
- Blood in the stool
- Burns of the esophagus (food pipe) and stomach
- Diarrhea
- Severe abdominal pain
- Vomiting, possibly bloody
- Heart and blood
- Collapse
- Low blood pressure (develops rapidly)
- Severe change in pH (too much or too little acid in the blood)
- Skin
- Burns
- Irritation
- Necrosis (holes) in the skin or underlying tissues
References
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). 2002. Managing Hazardous Materials Incidents. Volume III – Medical Management Guidelines for Acute Chemical Exposures: Sodium Hydroxide. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service.
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