Hydrochloric acid

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Hydrochloric acid

Home Treatment:

Seek emergency medical care immediately if you have been exposed to hydrochloric acid and have symptoms (mentioned above).

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 lots of water or milk IMMEDIATELY. If the person is vomiting, keep giving water or milk. Give 4 to 6 oz of milk of magnesia if available.

For inhalation poisoning, move the person to an area with fresh air.

Before Calling Emergency:

Determine the following information:

The patient's age, weight, and condition
The name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
When it was swallowed or inhaled
How much was swallowed or inhaled

Poison Control, or a local emergency number:

For any ingestion or exposure, seek emergency medical care immediately.

If you suspect possible poisoning, call 1-800-222-1222 anywhere in the United States. 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.

What to expect at the emergency room:

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

For swallowed poison:

Fluids may be given.
Milk of magnesia may be given.
Other symptoms will be treated.

For inhaled poison:

Breathing tube may be inserted.
Oxygen may be administered.
Other symptoms will be treated.

Expectations (prognosis):

The prognosis (probable outcome) depends on the amount and method of acid exposure. Extensive damage to the mouth, throat, and stomach are possible. The ultimate outcome depends on the extent of this damage. Drinking or inhaling hydrochloric acid may be fatal.

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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