Vinegar vapor poisoning

Vinegar is used in the pharmaceutical and food industries as well as in household applications. Acetic acid has a burning taste and an unpleasant odor. To date, there are two types of acid:

• Vinegar essence.
• Table vinegar, i.e. Food vinegar (produced from natural raw materials).

Table vinegar is used in households. In it, the concentration of the active ingredient does not exceed 9%. Intoxication with vinegar vapor refers to chemical burns. In this case, the way of getting a dangerous substance into the body does not matter. Most often vinegar enters the body through the mouth, causing burns of the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and esophagus.

Symptoms of the vinegar poisoning

Clinical picture of poisoning has several periods, duration of acute 5-10 days.

Symptoms:

• Severe pain in the mouth and throat.
• Painful sensations behind the sternum and along the course of the esophagus.
• Increased salivation.
• Reflex vomiting.
• Impaired swallowing.
• Hoarseness of voice.
• Inflammation and swelling of the airways.
• Respiratory failure.

If the essence has been taken internally, the victim is in a particularly serious condition:

• A sharp drop in blood pressure.
• Heart palpitations.
• Pale skin.
• Shortness of breath.
• Renal and hepatic failure.
• Psychoses.

At this stage, more than 50% of patients die. In those who survive, the condition improves. Painful sensations are reduced and esophageal patency is restored. The period of imaginary well-being lasts about 30 days. Gradually, dead tissue begins to reject, because of which there is a risk of perforation of the esophagus and bleeding. There is also the possibility of death from pneumonia. For both cases, the prognosis is doubtful.

If the patient survives, the formation of esophageal stricture (narrowing) occurs 2-4 months after the burn and lasts about 2-3 years. Granulation tissue is replaced by connective tissue, which impairs the contractility of the esophagus. Scarring changes cause dysphagia, that is, swallowing disorders. The painful condition is accompanied by a feeling of heaviness and pain behind the sternum. Food stagnates in the esophagus, there is belching, vomiting, esophagitis. Inelastic esophageal tissue can tear in any place, and chronic inflammation provoke malignant processes.

Treatment of the vinegar poisoning

Treatment of acetic essence vapor poisoning begins with the removal of residues of the substance from the body. In this case flushing the stomach is recommended using a special probe. Attempts to induce vomiting are contraindicated, as repeated passage of acid further traumatizes the tissues of the esophagus. It is recommended to drink as much water as possible so that it flushes the residual essence into the stomach (the stomach is more resistant to acidic environment). Also, you can not flush the stomach with a solution of baking soda, since the neutralization reaction will be accompanied by a large release of carbon dioxide and water, which can rupture the organ. It is mandatory to call an ambulance.