Burn with vinegar

It is hard to imagine a modern kitchen in which there is no acetic acid or essences. Mistresses like to add it to a variety of dishes, especially in conservation, without thinking that this product is fraught with danger. Vinegar burn is very easy to obtain, even if you just shed some acid on your skin. Even worse, if this liquid enters the esophagus. Therefore, you need to know what to do in such situations.

Causes of the vinegar burn

Acetic acid is capable of causing a severe chemical burn, which destroys the tissues of the body. The causes of the vinegar burn may be different, depending on what type of damage you have received: external or internal.

External burn is characterized by damage to the skin, getting on the body of a person or clothing. The internal is considered more dangerous, since 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 an unusual liquid for them.

[1], [2]

Symptoms of the vinegar burn

When acetic acid hits the skin, a white spot first appears, which quickly darkens and becomes gray. In this case, the injury site is quite painful, the burning sensation is felt in the tissues.

If vinegar enters the esophagus, the situation is much more serious, since its action is enhanced by salt acid. The difficulty of such a burn depends on the concentration of vinegar, and also on the time of its exposure to the mucous membrane.

Doctors-kombustiologi allocate certain stages which arise at a burn disease:

1. First, a person experiences a toxic shock, after which the first signs of intoxication appear.
2. Developed toxemia, which is characterized by skin hyperemia and acute toxic psychosis.
3. Different diseases start to manifest themselves, including pneumonia, gastritis, peritonitis, pancreatitis.
4. Asthenia burns (protein and electrolyte balance is violated, the weight of the victim is greatly reduced).

Burning face with vinegar

If acetic acid has got on the skin of the face, it is necessary to wash the epidermis as soon as possible with cool water from the tap. It is best to ask someone close to help you (if there is such an opportunity). After the wound has been thoroughly rinsed, it must be treated with a soda or soap solution. Immediately rinse the burn area and apply a compress (wet) on top. Thus, you can reduce the concentration of the acid that still remains on the skin of the face.

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

1. Attach the antiseptic (cream or gel) on the damaged area, which you can find in the home medicine cabinet.
2. Top with a bandage on the wound.

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

Esophagus burns with vinegar

In some cases, acetic acid enters the esophagus. The first thing to do if this happens is to call an emergency doctor.

In the hospital, immediately with the help of a special probe the patient is immediately washed with a stomach, first using ordinary drinking water and a special solution of soda (5% sodium bicarbonate solution), an intensive diuresis is performed. Remember that such a chemical burn is too serious, so do not self-medicate at all.

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Burn the eyes with vinegar

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

A throat burn with vinegar

With a burn of the throat with vinegar, there are such symptoms:

1. Excruciating and quite intense pain when swallowing.
2. Burning and pain in the larynx, in the Adam's apple.
3. Increased salivation.
4. Nausea with severe vomiting.
5. Body temperature can rise to 38 degrees.
6. Oral cavity swells.
7. Lymph nodes swell and begin to ache.
8. When vomiting, there is a characteristic acetic odor.

If the throat burn with vinegar is very heavy, then it can lead to suffocation or collapse.

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

Vinegar burn in the baby

Children often play with forbidden substances. Therefore, even if you have well hidden acetic acid, your child can find it and accidentally pour it on yourself. In such a case it is important not to panic, but immediately to strip the baby naked and redeem in fairly warm water with ordinary soap. Remember that you can not wash the limbs without taking off your clothes, as there may be a drop of vinegar on the fabric that will cause chemical burns on the body.

After that, you need to calm the child and give him a glass of water. Immediately consult a doctor who will prescribe the best treatment. If the burn from the vinegar is strong, then the damage first turns white, and then begins to blush. Do not smear the wound with any ointments or creams, as this can aggravate the situation. If the burn is not strong, then it passes for a month.

Complications and consequences

A burn from vinegar on the skin, as a rule, does not lead to serious consequences, especially if the first aid is provided in time. It is more difficult if the acid enters the throat or esophagus. This is because the mucous membranes and internal organs of the human body do not regenerate so well. If the victim received a second or third degree of 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 can be identified:

1. There are large scars on the tissues of the larynx, throat, esophagus, stomach.
2. Collapse and shock.
3. Reflexively, choking can occur due to nerve damage.

[4], [5], [6], [7]

Treatment of the vinegar burn

The treatment of a vinegar burn entirely depends on its degree. If this is the second or third degree of 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. Severe sensations are removed with the help of morphine anesthetics or other non-narcotics. It can be and analgesics in the form of sprays or solutions for injections.
2. Sedatives are used to calm the patient. Usually it is valerian or bromine.
3. That the wound does not fester and the infection does not get into it, it is necessary to use sulphonamides of systemic or local action.
4. If you have burned your throat, then oil preparations are poured into the throat with a special syringe.
5. To reduce intoxication when burned with vinegar of the esophagus, solutions of hemodiases, glucose, rheopoly-clone are used.

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

First aid for burning with vinegar

If you accidentally poured acetic acid on yourself, immediately flush the affected area under running cold water (at least 15-20 minutes) and then with a soda solution (one teaspoon of baking soda should be added to a glass of water).

Any manipulation should be done with gloves, especially if you help the victim. Do not touch the wound with your hands, as this can cause severe pain or increase the burn.

Completely free the place of vinegar from clothing. Sometimes it is rather difficult to do this and it is necessary to cut the fabric. If the clothing does not remove, do not try to tear it off the skin.

If you notice signs of shock in the victim (his breathing became more frequent, his face became pale, his pulse became too weak), it is necessary to give him a sedative (for example, valerian).

If you burn with vinegar of the esophagus, you should immediately wash your stomach. To do this, allow the victim to drink a liter of water, which should cause severe vomiting. Also, rinse the stomach with a 2% solution of sodium bicarbonate before the ambulance arrives (for this, 2 g of solution per 1 liter of lukewarm boiled water is taken).

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Medications

Promedol. Strong analgesic. Active active substance of the drug is trimesteredin. It is injected to relieve pain. Dosage is determined individually.

The main side effects of the drug: headaches, dizziness, nausea, constipation, anorexia, dry mouth, fatigue, anxiety, arrhythmia, urinary retention, allergy, burning at the injection site.

The drug is contraindicated for use in: renal or hepatic insufficiency, difficulty breathing, craniocerebral trauma, hypothyroidism, alcoholism, drug dependence.

Atropine. It helps to relieve stomach cramps with acetic acid burns to the esophagus. Active ingredient is atropine. Dosage is assigned individually, based on the patient's condition.

Side effects of the use of the agent: the appearance of dry mouth, constipation, tachycardia, dizziness, headaches, allergic reactions.

The drug is contraindicated for: increased sensitivity to the main component.

Panthenol. A popular tool for treating skin burns of varying degrees, which includes dexpanthenol. The drug helps the body to heal faster wounds and injuries resulting from burns.

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

No side effects were observed. If the patient has an increased sensitivity to the main components of the drug, it is prohibited to use it.

Hydrogen peroxide. With a vinegar burn, only 3% solution can be used and only in small amounts so as not to aggravate the situation. Recommended to disinfect the wound.

Alternative treatment

When burned with vinegar throat or larynx, you can use sea buckthorn, olive or peach oil to lubricate the affected mucosa. Alternative medicine also recommends irrigating the oral cavity with tinctures from oak bark, sage or chamomile, which provide astringent and enveloping effects. You can ingest egg white, sour cream, cream or cold soup.

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Surgical treatment

In severe burns of the esophagus or throat, surgical intervention is often required, since ulcers or scars may occur on the affected areas, which interfere with the normal functioning of the internal organs. As a rule, operations on the larynx, trachea, esophagus are performed.

Prevention

Most of these injuries patients receive at home, so you need to keep the possible risk to a minimum. Do not leave open acetic acid in places where children can reach.

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Forecast

The prognosis of the vinegar burn is different, depends on the degree of severity and on the localization of the lesion.