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Definition
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Poisonous Ingredient
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Where Found
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Symptoms
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Home Treatment
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Before Calling Emergency
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Poison Control, or a local emergency number
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What to expect at the emergency room
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Expectations (prognosis)
Definition
Poisoning from an overdose of sodium bisulfate.
Poisonous Ingredient
Sodium bisulfate
Where Found
- Leather tanning agents
- Photographic reducing agents
- Some food preservatives
Note: This list may not be all inclusive.
Symptoms
- If sodium bisulfate was swallowed:
- Burning pain in the mouth
- Diarrhea
- Asphyxiation (death due to inability to breathe) from swelling in the throat
- Brown discoloration around the mouth
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Vomiting
- Severe low blood pressure
- If poisoning results from skin contact:
- Pain in the area of skin contact
- Brownish stains in the area where the acid contacted the skin
Home Treatment
Seek emergency medical care immediately. DO NOT make a person throw up (vomit). Give water or milk as soon as possible to dilute the acid. If the patient is vomiting, keep giving fluids (water or milk). It is very important to dilute the acid to minimize damage to the tissues.
If skin contact is involved, wash the area thoroughly with water for at least 15 minutes. Remove any clothes containing the acid, washing the area beneath the clothes.
Before Calling Emergency
Determine the following information:
- the patient's age, weight, and condition
- the name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
- the time it was swallowed
- the amount swallowed
Poison Control, or a local emergency number
If you suspect possible poisoning, call 1-800-222-1222 anywhere in the U.S. 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:
- Diluting the acid.
- Giving activated charcoal.
- Giving milk of magnesia (if the acid was swallowed).
- Treating the other symptoms.
Expectations (prognosis)
Damage to the esophagus may occur as late as 2 to 3 weeks after ingestion. Death may occur up to 1 month after ingestion. Those who recover may suffer from constrictions in the pyloric region of the stomach or in the esophagus.
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