injuries and poisoning
Caustic Substances Poisoning
Symptoms of Caustic Substances Poisoning
Pain in the mouth and throat develops rapidly, usually within minutes, and can be severe, particularly with swallowing. Coughing, drooling, an inability to swallow, vomiting, vomiting blood, and shortness of breath may occur. In severe cases involving strong caustic substances, a person may develop very low blood pressure (shock), difficulty breathing, or chest pain, possibly leading to death. Perforation of the esophagus or stomachmay occur within hours, during the first week after ingestion, or any time in between, often after vomiting or severe coughing. The esophagus may perforate into the area between the lungs (the mediastinum) or into the area surrounding the lungs (the pleural cavity). Either circumstance causes severe chest pain, fever, rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, very low blood pressure, and the need for surgery. Peritonitis results in severe abdominal pain when the stomach perforates. Scarring of the esophagusresults in narrowing (stricture) and sometimes includes damage to the muscles responsible for swallowing, both of which cause difficulty in swallowing. Strictures usually develop weeks after the burn, sometimes in burns that initially caused only mild symptoms. People with scars and damage to the esophagus may develop Esophageal Cancer years after the injury. 