Poisoning: Mineral Acids

Introduction:

Mineral acids belong to corrosives and include Sulphuric acid, Nitric acid and Hydrochloric acid. Effects of mineral acids are local as there is no systemic absorption.

Action of Mineral Acids

• Water extraction from tissues
• Protein coagulation
• Hematin formation from hemoglobin

Sulphuric acid  (vitriol): 

1. Vitriolage’  is  throwing  of any corrosive  on another  person. Eye’s are affected  most commonly.  It comes  under  section 320 IPS.
2. pharyngeal  pain is the  most common  presenting symptom.
3. corrosion  of GI  tract,  lips,  mouth,  throat,  esophagus  and stomach.
4. There  is  brown discoloration  of stomach with erosion.
5. There  are  highest  chances  of perforation  of  stomach with H₂SO₄,  amongs all mineral  acids.
6. Fatal dose  is  10- 15 ml and  fatal period  is  12-16 hours.

Nitric acid:

• Nitric Acid is also known as Aqua fortis, Azotic Acid,Engraver’s Acid, Hydrogen  nitrate.
• It is able to destroy organic matters with formation of Xanthoproteic
• Acid that imparts deep yellow colour to the affected tissues.
• The Fatal Dose is about 20 to 30 ml while the approximate fatal Period could be 12-24 hours.
• It  stains  all the  GIT  and  tissues  with yellow  colour called  xanthoproteic  reaction.  There  is  brown discoloration of urine.
• Inhalation  of  fumes  causes  lacrimation,  photophobia,  irritation  of air  passages and lungs  producing  sneezing, coughing, dyspnea  and  asphyxia.

Hydrochloric Acid:

• Also known as Muriatic Acid or Spirit of Salts,is  a  colourless,fuming liquid  which  may  acquire  a  yellowish  tinge  on  exposure  to  air.
• The fold  of  the  whole  stomach  mucosa  are brownish.
• All  mineral  acids cause  extensive  soft tissue  damage  and  local  coagulative  necrosis. 
• Hydrogen  sulfide  does not  cause coagulative necrosis.

Treatment  for  mineral  acids  (H₂SO₄,  HNO₃,  HCI)  poisoning  is  as follows:

• Emesis, gastric  lavage  with stomach tube  is  contraindicated  for  fear  of stomach  rupture
• Drinking  plenty  of plain  water  to  dilute  acid  is  advised; but  not  so  much to  overdistend  and  ease stomach  rupture.
• Non  carbonated  weak alkalies  (carbonate  alkalies  should not be  used  as  they  form  gas  and over  distend  stomach).
• Non flatulent  antacids.
• Fresh  unboiled  egg albumin  or milk.
• Management  of shock.

 Exam Important

Don’t Forget to Solve all the previous Year Question asked on Poisoning: Mineral Acids