MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Lactic acid overdose

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Lactic acid overdose

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 an overdose of lactic acid.

Poisonous Ingredient

lactic acid

Where Found

some vaginal douches

Symptoms

If swallowed:

burning pain in the throat or mouth
inability to breathe because of swelling of the face or throat
brownish stains around the mouth
bloody diarrhea (coffee-ground like material)
vomiting blood (coffee-ground like material)
low blood pressure

If there is skin contact:

brownish stains in the area the acid contacted the skin
burns

Home Treatment

If swallowed:

DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING.
Give water or milk as soon as possible to dilute the acid.
If the patient is vomiting, keep administering fluids (water/milk). It is very important to dilute the acid to minimize damage to the tissues.

If there is skin contact:

Wash the area thoroughly with water for at least 15 minutes.
Remove any clothes containing the acid, washing the affected skin beneath the clothes.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

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

Poison Control, or a local emergency number

If you are concerned about a lactic acid overdose, go to your nearest emergency room or call poison control. See poison control centers for the national telephone number. 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:

Dilute the acid.
Give milk of magnesia (if the acid was swallowed).
Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis)

Damage to the esophagus may occur as late as 2-3 weeks after the acid is swallowed. Death may occur up to 1 month after it is swallowed.

Patients who recover may develop constrictions in the pyloric region of the stomach or in the esophagus.

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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