Turpentine oil poisoning

Turpentine oil comes from a substance in pine trees. Turpentine oil poisoning occurs when someone swallows turpentine oil or breathes in the fumes. Breathing these fumes on purpose is sometimes called "huffing" or "bagging."

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

Turpentine can be harmful if it is used incorrectly.

Where Found

Turpentine is found in these products:

• Some floor and furniture waxes and polishes
• Some paint brush cleaners
• Pure turpentine

Other products may also contain turpentine.

Symptoms

Below are symptoms of turpentine poisoning in different parts of the body.

BLADDER AND KIDNEYS

• Blood in urine

  Blood in urine

  Blood in your urine is called hematuria. The amount may be very small and only detected with urine tests or under a microscope. In other cases, the...

   

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• Kidney failure (no urine produced)

  Kidney failure

  Acute kidney failure is the rapid (less than 2 days) loss of your kidneys' ability to remove waste and help balance fluids and electrolytes in your b...

   

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EYES, EARS, NOSE, AND THROAT

• Loss of vision
• Severe pain in the throat
• Severe pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue

STOMACH AND INTESTINES

• Blood in the stool

  Blood in the stool

  Bloody stools often are a sign of a problem in the digestive tract. Blood in the stool may come from anywhere along your digestive tract from your m...

   

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• Burns of the food pipe (esophagus)
• Severe abdominal pain

  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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• Vomiting
• Vomiting blood

  Vomiting blood

  Vomiting blood is regurgitating (throwing up) contents of the stomach that contains blood. Vomited blood may appear either a bright red or dark red c...

   

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HEART AND BLOOD

• Collapse
• Low blood pressure that develops rapidly

  Low blood pressure

  Low blood pressure occurs when blood pressure is much lower than normal. This means the heart, brain, and other parts of the body do not get enough ...

   

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LUNGS AND AIRWAYS

• Breathing difficulty (from breathing in turpentine)
• Severe cough or choking
• Throat swelling (which may also cause breathing difficulty)

SKIN

• Bluish skin color
• Burns
• Irritation

Home Care

Seek medical help right away. DO NOT make the person throw up unless poison control or a health care provider tells you to. If the turpentine is on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes.

If the person swallowed turpentine, give them water or milk right away, unless a provider tells you not to. DO NOT give anything to drink if the person has symptoms that make it hard to swallow. These include vomiting, convulsions, or a decreased level of alertness. If the person breathed in the turpentine, move them to fresh air right away.

Before Calling Emergency

Have this information ready:

• Person's age, weight, and condition
• Name of the product (ingredients, if known)
• Time it was swallowed
• Amount swallowed

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. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. 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

Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.

The provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated.

The person may receive:

• Blood and urine tests
• Breathing support, including a tube through the mouth and into the lungs, and a breathing machine (ventilator).
• Bronchoscopy. Camera placed down the throat to see burns in the airways and lungs.
• Chest x-ray
• EKG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing)
• Endoscopy. Camera placed down the throat to see burns in the esophagus and the stomach.
• Fluids through the veins (by IV)
• Medicines to treat symptoms
• Surgery to remove burned skin
• Washing of the skin (irrigation). Perhaps every few hours for several days.

Outlook (Prognosis)

How well someone does depends on how much turpentine they swallowed and how quickly they receive treatment. The faster medical help is given, the better the chance for recovery. Turpentine can cause extensive damage in the:

• Lungs
• Mouth
• Stomach
• Throat

The outcome depends on the extent of this damage.

Delayed injury may occur, including a hole forming in the throat, esophagus, or stomach. This can lead to severe bleeding and infection.

If turpentine gets in the eye, sores may develop in the cornea, the clear part of the eye. This can cause blindness.