Nitric acid poisoning

Nitric acid is a poisonous clear-to-yellow colored liquid. This article discusses poisoning from swallowing or breathing in nitric acid.

This article is for information only. Do NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call your local emergency number (such as 911), or your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.

Poisonous Ingredient

Nitric acid

Where Found

• Fertilizers
• Substances used to clean metals (such as gun barrels)

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms

Symptoms from swallowing nitric acid may include:

• Abdominal pain - severe

  Abdominal pain

  Abdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly.

   

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• Burns to skin or mouth
• Drooling
• Fever

  Fever

  Fever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature in response to a disease or illness. A child has a fever when the temperature is at or abov...

   

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• Mouth pain - severe
• Rapid drop in blood pressure (shock)
• Throat swelling, which leads to breathing difficulty
• Throat pain - severe
• Vomiting , bloody

  Vomiting

  Nausea is feeling an urge to vomit. It is often called "being sick to your stomach. "Vomiting or throwing-up is forcing the contents of the stomach ...

   

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Symptoms from breathing in (inhaling) nitric acid may include:

• Bluish-colored lips and fingernails

  Bluish-colored lips and fingernails

  Cyanosis is a bluish color to the skin or mucous membrane that is usually due to a lack of oxygen in the blood.

   

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• Chest tightness

  Chest tightness

  Chest pain is discomfort or pain that you feel anywhere along the front of your body between your neck and upper abdomen.

   

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• Choking

  Choking

  Choking is when someone is having a very hard time breathing because food, a toy, or other object is blocking the throat or windpipe (airway). A cho...

   

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• Coughing

  Coughing

  Coughing is an important way to keep your throat and airways clear. But too much coughing may mean you have a disease or disorder. Some coughs are d...

   

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• Coughing up blood

  Coughing up blood

  Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract). Hemoptysis is the medical term for cough...

   

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• Dizziness

  Dizziness

  Dizziness is a term that is often used to describe 2 different symptoms: lightheadedness and vertigo. Lightheadedness is a feeling that you might fai...

   

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• Low blood pressure
• Rapid pulse

  Rapid pulse

  A bounding pulse is a strong throbbing felt over one of the arteries in the body. It is due to a forceful heartbeat.

   

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• Shortness of breath

  Shortness of breath

  Breathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathingUncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough air

   

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• Weakness

  Weakness

  Weakness is reduced strength in one or more muscles.

   

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Home Care

Seek medical help right away. DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by Poison Control or a health care professional.

If the chemical was swallowed, immediately give the person water or milk, unless instructed otherwise by a health care provider. Give 4 to 6 ounces (120 to 180 milliliters) of milk of magnesia, if possible.

DO NOT give water or milk if the person is having symptoms (such as vomiting, convulsions, or a decreased level of alertness) that make it hard to swallow.

If the person breathed in the poison, immediately move him or her to fresh air.

Before Calling Emergency

The following information is helpful for the emergency responders:

• The person's age, weight, and condition
• The name of the product (and ingredients and strengths, if known)
• The time it was swallowed or inhaled
• The amount swallowed or inhaled

However, DO NOT delay calling for help if this information is not immediately available.

Poison Control

Your local poison center  can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What to Expect at the Emergency Room

The health care provider will measure and monitor vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. The person may receive:

• Airway support, including oxygen, breathing tube through the mouth (intubation), and breathing machine (ventilator)
• Blood and urine tests
• Camera down the throat (endoscopy) to see burns in the food pipe (esophagus) and stomach
• Chest x-ray
• EKG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing)
• Fluids through a vein (intravenous or IV)
• Medicines to treat symptoms
• Tube through the nose into the stomach to suction (aspirate) any remaining acid

Hospital admission may be necessary to continue treatment. Surgery may be required if the esophagus, stomach, or intestines have developed holes (perforation) from exposure to the acid.

Outlook (Prognosis)

How well a person does depends on the amount of poison swallowed, how concentrated the poison is, and how quickly treatment was received. The faster a person gets medical help, the better the chance for recovery. Permanent injury and disability may occur.