Fuel oil poisoning

Fuel oil poisoning occurs when someone swallows, breathes in (inhales), or touches fuel oil.

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

Substances called hydrocarbons are the harmful ingredients in fuel oil.

Where Found

These substances are found in:

• Fuel oil
• Kerosene

There may be other sources of fuel oil.

Symptoms

Below are symptoms of fuel oil poisoning in different parts of the body.

EYES, EARS, NOSE, AND THROAT

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

STOMACH AND INTESTINES

• 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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• 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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• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting, (may contain blood)

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

• Breathing difficulty (from breathing the fumes)
• Throat swelling (which may also cause breathing difficulty)

NERVOUS SYSTEM

• Convulsions
• Depression
• Difficulty concentrating
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Feeling of being drunk (euphoria)
• Headaches
• Lightheadedness
• Loss of alertness (unconsciousness)
• Seizures
• Staggering
• Weakness

SKIN

• Blisters
• Burn
• Irritation
• Peeling of the skin

Home Care

Get medical help right away. Do NOT make the person throw up unless poison control or a health care provider tells you to.

If the fuel oil is on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes.

If the person swallowed the fuel oil, 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 fumes, move them to fresh air right away.

Before Calling Emergency

Have this information ready:

• Person's age, weight, and condition
• Name of the product, 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 national 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

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:

• Breathing support, including tube through the mouth into the lungs and breathing machine (ventilator)
• Bronchoscopy -- camera down the throat to see burns in the airways and lungs
• Chest x-ray
• EKG (electrocardiogram or heart tracing)
• Endoscopy -- camera down the throat to see burns in the esophagus and the stomach
• Fluids through a vein (by IV)
• Medicine to treat symptoms
• Tube through the mouth into the stomach to wash out the stomach ( gastric lavage )

  Gastric lavage

  Gastric suction is a procedure to empty the contents of your stomach.

   

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• Washing of the skin (irrigation), perhaps every few hours for several days

Outlook (Prognosis)

How well someone does depends on how much fuel oil they swallowed and how quickly they receive treatment. The faster medical help is given, the better the chance for recovery.

Extensive damage to the mouth, throat, and stomach are possible. The outcome depends on the extent of this damage. Damage can continue to occur for several weeks after swallowing fuel oil.

The main danger from swallowing kerosene is that it can also go into your lungs. It can also get into your lungs if you throw up kerosene you have swallowed. Getting a large amount into your lungs can cause serious lung damage. It can also cause you to stop breathing.