MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Oxalic acid

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Oxalic acid

Contents of this page:
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)

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.

Update Date: 5/12/2003

Updated by: Todd Severson, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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