Oxalic acid

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Oxalic acid

Definition:

Poisoning from exposure to oxalic acid.

Poisonous Ingredient:

Oxalic acid

Where Found:

Some bleaches
Some anti-rust products
Some metal cleaners
Rhubarb leaves

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms:

Body as a whole
- Pain in the mouth
- Tremors
- Convulsions
- Collapse
- Shock
Pain in the throat
Kidney damage
Gastrointestinal
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
Heart and blood vessels
- Weak pulse
- Low blood pressure

Home Treatment:

Call Poison Control. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. Give milk or water immediately, preferably water.

Before Calling Emergency:

Determine the following:

The patient's age, weight, and condition
The name of the product (and ingredients and strengths, if known)
The time it was swallowed
The amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number:

The Poison Control or local emergency telephone representative will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses.

Take the container with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room:

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

Support of the patient's airway and breathing
Administration of IV or oral antidote.
Treatment of the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis):

The extent of injury is determined by the amount of acid ingested and the time to treatment. Severe ulceration of the mouth, GI tract, or airway may occur and can be rapidly fatal if not treated.

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