Acid poisoning, also called corrosive ingestion, is a serious medical emergency that can severely damage the food pipe (esophagus), stomach, throat, and digestive tract.
Strong acids used in household or industrial cleaning products can cause:
- Chemical burns
- Perforation
- Strictures (narrowing)
- Difficulty swallowing
- Malnutrition
- Long-term digestive complications
At Laprocare Hospital,
Dr. Vimal Detroja provides evaluation, endoscopic assessment, nutritional support, and surgical management of complications caused by corrosive acid injury.
What Happens During Acid Poisoning?
When corrosive acid is swallowed, it causes severe chemical burns inside the body.
The injury may affect:
- Mouth
- Throat
- Food pipe (esophagus)
- Stomach
- Small intestine
Severity depends on:
- Type of acid
- Quantity consumed
- Concentration
- Duration of contact
- Delay in treatment
Symptoms of Acid Poisoning
Patients may experience:
๐จ Severe burning pain
๐จ Vomiting
๐จ Difficulty swallowing
๐จ Drooling of saliva
๐จ Chest pain
๐จ Abdominal pain
๐จ Blood in vomit
๐จ Breathing difficulty
๐จ Fever and infection
Immediate First Aid After Acid Ingestion
Important Emergency Measures
โ Reach hospital immediately
โ Rinse mouth gently with water
โ Keep patient calm
โ Seek emergency medical evaluation
What Should NOT Be Done
โ Do NOT force vomiting
โ Do NOT give unknown home remedies
โ Do NOT try to neutralize acid with alkali
โ Do NOT delay medical care
Improper handling can worsen internal injury.
How to Prevent Acid Poisoning
Many corrosive injuries occur accidentally at home.
Important Prevention Measures
Store Chemicals Safely
Keep acids and cleaning agents:
- Away from children
- In locked cabinets
- In original labeled containers
Never Store Acid in Drinking Bottles
This is a common cause of accidental ingestion.
Use Protective Measures
Industrial workers should use:
- Gloves
- Eye protection
- Safe handling practices
Mental Health Support
Intentional ingestion requires urgent psychiatric and emotional support in addition to medical treatment.
Complications of Acid Poisoning
Corrosive injury may lead to severe long-term complications.
Esophageal Stricture
Scar formation narrows the food pipe causing:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Food sticking sensation
- Weight loss
Gastric Outlet Obstruction
Scarring near stomach outlet can block food passage causing:
- Recurrent vomiting
- Severe malnutrition
- Abdominal fullness
Perforation
Severe burns may create holes in the digestive tract leading to:
- Infection
- Sepsis
- Life-threatening emergency
Nutritional Problems
Patients may develop:
- Dehydration
- Weight loss
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Protein deficiency
Care After Acid Injury
Recovery requires careful long-term follow-up.
Nutritional Care
Patients may need:
- Liquid diet initially
- Soft diet progression
- High-protein nutrition
- Feeding tube support in severe cases
Endoscopic Evaluation
Upper GI endoscopy helps assess:
- Severity of burns
- Healing
- Stricture formation
Regular Monitoring
Long-term follow-up is important because scar formation may continue for weeks or months.
Surgical Treatment for Acid Injury Complications
Some patients develop severe narrowing or obstruction requiring surgery.
Procedures May Include:
Feeding Jejunostomy
A feeding tube is placed into intestine for nutritional support.
Gastrojejunostomy
Helps bypass blocked stomach outlet.
Esophageal Reconstruction
In severe strictures, reconstruction surgery may be needed.
Stricture Dilatation
Endoscopic procedures may help widen narrowed food pipe.
Advanced Surgical Care in Morbi
At Laprocare Hospital,
Dr. Vimal Detroja provides comprehensive care for corrosive injury complications including:
- Nutritional management
- Endoscopic evaluation
- Feeding access procedures
- Gastrointestinal bypass surgery
- Long-term follow-up care
Why Early Treatment is Important
Early diagnosis and proper management can:
โ Reduce complications
โ Improve nutrition
โ Prevent severe strictures
โ Improve swallowing function
โ Improve long-term recovery
Book Consultation
Laprocare Hospital
๐ Morbi, Gujarat
๐ +91 79843 69579
Consult
Dr. Vimal Detroja
for evaluation and management of acid poisoning complications, corrosive injury, swallowing difficulty, and gastrointestinal reconstruction surgery.