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Strong acids and bases cause necrosis of living tissue (skin, mucous membranes) with which they come into contact. Acids break down the protein by cutting it (coagulation necrosis), while bases cause run-off necrosis.
Tissue damage (ulceration) caused by acids is shallower and becomes covered with scabs quickly, while after bases they drill deeply and more often cause perforation of the digestive tract walls.
Apart from the local action, these chemically very active compounds exert a general action, which is the result of both their specific action and the influence of the whole organism on tissue damage.
The most common inorganic acid poisoning is hydrochloric, sulfuric and nitric acid. Concentrated organic acids such as acetic, oxalic, formic, lactic have a similar, though weaker, local and general effect.
Among the caustic bases, the most important in toxicology are sodium and potassium hydroxides (lyes) and concentrated ammonia solution.
Symptoms of poisoning
In visible places of burns with acids (on the skin around the mouth, on the mucosa of the mouth and throat) necrotic scabs (white after hydrochloric acid, yellow after nitric acid, black after sulfur). After lyes, the mucosa is swollen, with a red, glassy surface with dirty stains, sometimes with blisters. Immediately after the burn, there are pain in the mouth, behind the breastbone and in the upper abdomen. Vomiting (acid-fuzzy), glottis swelling may occur. Usually a more or less severe shock develops within an hour. If you choke (vomit), you may experience pulmonary edema, later inflammation and gangrene. Punctures in the esophagus and stomach may be early (especially after lyes) after a few hours or late (also in the intestines) after a few days. Death from shock, glottis or pulmonary edema can occur within the first hour, or from these and other complications after a few days.
Late complications after burns of the gastrointestinal tract with corrosive substances include narrowing up to the obstruction of the esophagus and stomach. They may appear after several weeks or even months.
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