MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Hydrofluoric acid

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Hydrofluoric acid

Contents of this page:
Alternative names Definition Poisonous Ingredient Where Found Symptoms	Home Treatment Before Calling Emergency Poison Control, or a local emergency number What to expect at the emergency room Expectations (prognosis)

Alternative names

Fluohydric acid

Definition Return to top

Poisoning from an overdose of hydrofluoric acid.

Poisonous Ingredient Return to top

Hydrofluoric acid

Where Found Return to top

Used in glass etching
Used in industry as a corrosive agent
Used in the production of computer screens
Used in fluorescent bulbs
Used in the refinement of high octane gasoline

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms Return to top

From swallowing:

Body as a whole
- Severe pain in the mouth
- Fever
Respiratory
- Inability to breathe as the throat swells shut
Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- Severe pain in the throat
Gastrointestinal
- Severe abdominal pain
- Vomiting
Heart and blood vessels
- Rapid drop in blood pressure
- Ventricular fibrillation

From inhalation:

Body as a whole
- Chills
- Fever
- Tight chest
Respiratory
- Coughing
- Pulmonary edema
Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- Choking
Skin
- Bluish colored lips and fingernails

Home Treatment Return to top

DO NOT INDUCE EMESIS (VOMITING).

If the acid is on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes. Take to emergency department immediately.

For extremities affected irrigate with water and transport to emergency department immediately.

If the acid is swallowed or inhaled, transport to the nearest emergency department immediately.

Before Calling Emergency Return to top

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 Return to top

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the person to the hospital. Take the container with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room Return to top

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

For swallowed poison:

Give fluids.
Give milk of magnesia.
Treat the symptoms.

For inhalation:

Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

The prognosis (probable outcome) depends on how rapidly the acid was diluted and neutralized. Extensive damage to the mouth, throat, and stomach are possible. The ultimate outcome depends on the extent of this damage. For inhalation patients, symptoms usually will resolve after 10 to 30 days.

Update Date: 10/28/2003

Updated by: Cherlin Johnson, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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