MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: After shaves

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After shaves

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 ingestion of an after shave product.

Poisonous Ingredient

ethyl alcohol
isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol)

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Where Found

various after shave products

Symptoms

for ethanol:

body as a whole
- listing from side to side
- unable to walk in a normal manner
- slurred speech
- easily upset
respiratory
- slowed respirations
gastrointestinal
heart and blood vessels
- low blood pressure
nervous system
- stupor
- coma

for isopropanol:

body as a whole
- unresponsive reflexes
- incoordination
respiratory
- slowed respirations
gastrointestinal
- nausea and/or vomiting
- vomitus containing blood
- abdominal pain
heart and blood vessels
- low blood pressure
nervous system
- dizziness
- deep stupor or state of unconsciousness unresponsive to treatment
- coma

Home Treatment

Call Poison Control.

DO NOT INDUCE EMESIS (VOMITING) UNLESS INSTRUCTED TO DO SO BY Poison Control.

If instructed, give the usual dose of ipecac syrup: 15 milliliters (ml) or 1 TABLEspoonful for children and 30 ml (2 TABLEspoonsful) for an adult. Follow with 1/2 glass or 4 ounces (oz.) of water for children or 8 to 12 oz. of water for adults. Repeat 1 more time in 1/2 hour if emesis has not occurred.

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

They 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:
For ethanol and isopropanol:

Use gastric lavage.
Treat breathing difficulties.
Maintain blood pressure.
Use dialysis.
Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis)

For ethanol: Survival over 24 hours usually indicates recovery will occur in cases of acute toxic alcohol consumption.

For isopropanol: If the patient survives over 72 hours, complete recovery is very likely.

Update Date: 2/12/2004

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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