Vinegar burn

It is hard to imagine a modern kitchen without acetic acid or essence. Housewives love to add it to a variety of dishes, especially canned food, without thinking that this product is dangerous. It is very easy to get a vinegar burn, even if you just spill a little acid on your skin. It is even worse if this liquid gets into the esophagus. Therefore, it is necessary to know what to do in such situations.

Causes vinegar burn

Vinegar acid can cause a severe chemical burn that destroys body tissue. The causes of vinegar burns can be different, depending on what type of damage you received: external or internal.

An external burn is characterized by the fact that the skin is damaged when it gets on a person's body or clothes. An internal burn is considered more dangerous, as it destroys the mucous membrane, especially the esophagus and pharynx. As a rule, such a burn is received by children who, through ignorance, can drink a liquid that is unusual for them.

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Symptoms vinegar burn

When acetic acid gets on the skin, a white spot first appears, which quickly darkens and turns gray. At the same time, the damaged area hurts quite a lot, and a burning sensation is felt in the tissues.

If vinegar gets into the esophagus, the situation is much more serious, as its effect is enhanced by hydrochloric acid. The severity of such a burn depends on the concentration of vinegar, as well as the time of its action on the mucous membrane.

Combustiologists distinguish certain stages that occur in burn disease:

1. First, a person experiences toxic shock, after which the first signs of intoxication of the body appear.
2. Toxemia develops, which is characterized by hyperemia of the skin and acute toxic psychosis.
3. Various diseases begin to manifest themselves, including pneumonia, gastritis, peritonitis, and pancreatitis.
4. Burn asthenia (protein and electrolyte balances are disrupted, the victim’s weight is greatly reduced).

Vinegar burn on face

If acetic acid gets on your face, you need to rinse the epidermis with cool tap water as quickly as possible. It is best to ask someone close to you to help you (if possible). After the wound has been thoroughly rinsed, you need to treat it with a soda or soap solution. Immediately rinse the burn site again and apply a compress (wet) on top. This way, you can reduce the concentration of the acid that still remains on your face.

As soon as the intensity of the pain decreases a little, you need to:

1. Apply an antiseptic (cream or gel) to the damaged area, which you can find in your home medicine cabinet.
2. Place a bandage on top of the wound.

Remember, if the burn is very severe, it is best to call an ambulance immediately.

Esophagus burn with vinegar

In some cases, acetic acid gets into the esophagus. The first thing to do if this happens is to call an ambulance.

In the hospital, the patient's stomach will be immediately washed with a special probe, first using regular drinking water and a special soda solution (5% sodium bicarbonate solution), forced diuresis is performed. Remember that such a chemical burn is too serious, so do not self-medicate under any circumstances.

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Vinegar eye burn

Sometimes acid can get on the mucous membrane of the eye, for example, when you open a bottle of vinegar. To provide first aid to the victim, it is necessary to immediately rinse the eyes with clean running water. This process should be stretched out for a fairly long period of time. Then replace the water with a weak solution of soda (1 teaspoon per 250 ml or a regular glass of water), and then rinse with water again. The lower the temperature of the water, the faster the pain-relieving effect of its use will come. After this, immediately consult a doctor.

Throat burn from vinegar

When you burn your throat with vinegar, the following symptoms appear:

1. Excruciating and quite intense pain when swallowing.
2. Burning and pain in the larynx, in the Adam's apple area.
3. Increased salivation.
4. Nausea with severe vomiting.
5. Body temperature can rise to 38 degrees.
6. The oral cavity swells.
7. The lymph nodes swell and begin to hurt.
8. When vomiting, a characteristic vinegar smell is felt.

If the throat burn from vinegar is severe, it can lead to suffocation or collapse.

First aid, which is usually provided at home, is the most important step on the road to recovery. First of all, you need to try to neutralize the acetic acid that has come into contact with the mucous membrane of the throat. Prepare a weak soda solution and rinse your throat well with it (you can replace it with a weak solution of burnt magnesia). Immediately after this, call an ambulance, since in case of a chemical burn of the throat, gastric lavage is an important step.

Vinegar burn in a child

Children often play with prohibited substances. Therefore, even if you have hidden the acetic acid well, your child may find it and accidentally pour it on himself. In such a case, it is important not to panic, but to immediately undress the baby completely naked and bathe him in fairly warm water with ordinary soap. Remember that you cannot wash only the extremities without removing clothes, as drops of vinegar may remain on the fabric, which will cause chemical burns on the body.

After this, you need to calm the child down and give him a glass of water to drink. Immediately consult a doctor who will prescribe the best treatment. If the vinegar burn is severe, the damaged area will first turn white and then begin to turn red. Do not apply any ointments or creams to the wound, as this may worsen the situation. If the burn is not severe, it will go away within a month.

Complications and consequences

A vinegar burn on the skin usually does not lead to serious consequences, especially if first aid is provided in time. It is more difficult if the acid gets into the throat or esophagus. This is explained by the fact that the mucous membranes and internal organs of the human body do not regenerate so well. If the victim received a second or third degree burn, this can lead not only to his disability, but also to death. Among the most difficult complications after a burn of the throat or esophagus are:

1. Large scars appear on the tissues of the larynx, throat, esophagus, and stomach.
2. Collapse and shock.
3. Suffocation may occur reflexively due to nerve damage.

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Treatment vinegar burn

Treatment of a burn with vinegar depends entirely on its degree. If it is a second or third degree burn, the patient must be treated in a hospital. A first degree burn is usually treated at home, but under the supervision of a doctor.

Typically, therapy includes the following methods:

1. Heavy sensations are relieved by painkillers with morphine or other non-narcotic drugs. These can be analgesics in the form of sprays or injection solutions.
2. Sedatives are used to calm the patient. Usually this is valerian or bromine.
3. To prevent the wound from festering and becoming infected, it is necessary to use systemic or local sulfonamides.
4. If you have burned your throat, oil preparations are poured into the throat using a special syringe.
5. To reduce intoxication in case of vinegar burns of the esophagus, solutions of hemodez, glucose, and rheopolyglucin are used.

In addition to medication, the patient must always follow a special gentle diet. If you have a burn of the esophagus or throat, the doctor may recommend taking only pureed food or soups. It is also necessary to apply cold compresses to the damaged area.

First Aid for Vinegar Burns

If you accidentally spill acetic acid on yourself, you must immediately rinse the affected area under running cold water (at least 15-20 minutes), and then with a soda solution (to prepare it, you need to add one teaspoon of baking soda to a glass of water).

Any manipulations should be carried out with gloves, especially if you are helping the victim. Never touch the wound with your hands, as this can cause severe pain or worsen the burn.

Remove all clothing from the vinegar-damaged area. Sometimes this is quite difficult and you have to cut the fabric off. If the clothing is not removable, do not try to tear it off your skin.

If you notice signs of shock in the victim (his breathing has increased, his skin has turned pale, his pulse has become too weak), you need to give him a sedative (for example, valerian).

If the esophagus is burned with vinegar, the stomach must be washed out immediately. To do this, give the victim a liter of water to drink, which should cause severe vomiting. Also, be sure to wash the stomach with a 2% sodium bicarbonate solution before the ambulance arrives (for this, take 2 g of solution per 1 liter of lukewarm boiled water).

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Medicines

Promedol. A potent analgesic. The active ingredient of the drug is trimeperidine. It is administered as an injection to relieve pain. The dosage is determined individually.

The main side effects from using the drug are headaches, dizziness, nausea, constipation, anorexia, dry mouth, fatigue, anxiety, arrhythmia, urinary retention, allergies, burning at the injection site.

The product is contraindicated for use in cases of: renal or hepatic insufficiency, difficulty breathing, traumatic brain injury, hypothyroidism, alcoholism, drug addiction.

Atropine. Helps relieve stomach spasms caused by acetic acid burns of the esophagus. The active ingredient is atropine. The dosage is prescribed individually, based on the patient's condition.

Side effects from using the product: dry mouth, constipation, tachycardia, dizziness, headaches, allergic reactions.

The drug is contraindicated in cases of: hypersensitivity to the main component.

Panthenol. A popular remedy for treating skin burns of varying degrees, which includes dexpanthenol. The drug helps the body heal wounds and damage caused by a burn faster.

Available as a cream, spray or ointment. Apply a thin layer to the affected area (if it is an ointment/cream) two to four times a day. Rub in with light massage movements. Use only for first-degree vinegar burns.

No side effects were observed. If the patient has hypersensitivity to the main components of the drug, its use is prohibited.

Hydrogen peroxide. For a vinegar burn, only a 3% solution can be used and only in small quantities, so as not to aggravate the situation. Recommended for disinfecting the wound.

Folk remedies

If you have a vinegar burn of the throat or larynx, you can use sea buckthorn, olive or peach oil to lubricate the affected mucous membrane. Traditional medicine also recommends irrigating the oral cavity with tinctures of oak bark, sage or chamomile, which have an astringent and enveloping effect. You can take egg whites, sour cream, cream or cold soup internally.

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Surgical treatment

Severe burns of the esophagus or throat often require surgical intervention, as ulcers or scars may form in the affected areas, which interfere with the normal functioning of internal organs. As a rule, operations are performed on the larynx, trachea, and esophagus.

Prevention

Most of these injuries occur at home, so it is important to keep the risk to a minimum. Do not leave open acetic acid in places where children can reach.

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Forecast

The prognosis for a vinegar burn varies, depending on the severity and location of the lesion.