Causes and Risks:

• lactic acid

Where Found:

• some vaginal douches

Symptoms:

• body as a whole
  • burning pain in the throat or mouth (if swallowed)
  • pain in the area of skin contact with burns (if poisoning results from skin contact)
• respiratory
  • asphyxiation (death due to inability to breathe) because of swelling of the face or throat (if swallowed)
• skin
  • brownish stains around the mouth (if swallowed)
  • brownish stains in the area the acid contacted the skin (if poisoning results from skin contact)
• gastrointestinal
  • vomiting blood (coffee-ground like material)
  • bloody diarrhea (coffee-ground like material)
• heart and blood vessels
  • dramatic drop in blood pressure (low blood pressure)

Home Treatment:

If swallowed: DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING (EMESIS). 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 so that it does minimal damage to the tissues.

If skin contact is involved: 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

Call Poison Control: If you are concerned about a lactic acid overdose, seek medical care immediately at your nearest emergency room. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room.

What To Expect:

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.

Damage to the esophagus may occur as late as 2-3 weeks after ingestion. Death may occur up to 1 month after ingestion.

Those who recover will likely suffer from constrictions in the pyloric region of the stomach or in the esophagus.