What happens if vinegar. Death by vinegar

Vinegar, also known as acetic acid, is found in every home. However, not everyone views it as a chemical substance that is quite dangerous not only to health, but also to life. It’s worth taking a closer look, and if not at home, then at your friends’ or neighbors’ house, you may notice a familiar bottle, lost among seasonings and other culinary supplies. It would seem convenient and always at hand, but if there are small children in the house, then such negligence is unforgivable.

Acetic acid has been known since ancient times– it was used by the ancient Greeks. The name comes from them - “oxos” in Greek means “sour”. Indeed, adding a very small amount of vinegar to food can dramatically change its taste towards sour.

Acetic acid belongs to organic acids and is quite common in nature - it is involved in the process of fruit ripening, is part of both vegetable and animal fats, and is even found in animal secretions. Chemically, it is quite weak when compared with inorganic acids, but in high concentrations it manifests itself in all its glory.

It is the concentrated, namely 80% solution of acetic acid that we buy in the store to then add to food. Due to its ability to suppress the activity of microorganisms, vinegar is often added to various pickles, marinades and other winter preparations. Therefore, a bottle of vinegar can be found in any house and in any apartment.

This is where the danger lies - vinegar can easily be confused with another liquid and accidentally drunk. There is nothing to say about children - they put everything they can reach into their mouths. And, of course, sometimes vinegar is used for suicide. A very painful and painful way, however...

What can happen when vinegar gets into your mouth, or even beyond?

It depends on the amount of acid. First, the unfortunate person who tries this poison will feel a strong burning sensation and sharp pain in the mouth, along the esophagus to the stomach. A chemical burn occurs on all mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract that come into contact with acid. Further, acetic acid penetrates the circulatory system, causing destruction - hemolysis of red blood cells. As a result, signs of body poisoning, as well as acute renal and liver failure, appear.

Depending on the amount of vinegar you drink The severity of the victim's condition may vary. At best, only burns of the lips, oral cavity and esophagus will occur. Although this will also entail very unpleasant consequences - in addition to terrible long-term pain, the unfortunate person will then have to suffer for a long time when eating. After all, the scars formed at the site of burns “tighten” the surrounding tissues, causing their deformation. The esophagus can narrow to the point of complete closure, and in any case, swallowing function is impaired. In addition, the larynx and trachea are burned by vinegar vapor. The result is partial or complete loss of voice, and difficulty breathing in addition.

In addition to the esophagus, the stomach also receives significant burns. It already has an acidic environment due to the presence of digestive juice, and, as you know, it contains hydrochloric acid. An additional portion of vinegar for the stomach is a terrible tragedy. At best there will be vomiting of blood, at worst - complete perforation of the stomach, i.e. a “hole” simply forms and all the contents fall into the abdominal cavity. This is worse than an atomic bomb for the body. In addition, even with proper and timely assistance, scars will also form in the stomach, and it may even require partial removal.

Anyone who drank enough vinegar, even surviving, will remain disabled for life.

A small amount will remind you of this incident for the rest of your life with scars on your lips or in your mouth. If the vinegar was in the range of 15-30 ml, then there will be a “mild” form of poisoning, 70 ml guarantees death. For children, of course, the dose is much less. I still remember one granny who drank some vinegar with the intention of committing suicide. But the dose turned out to be such that she only burned her esophagus. She lived after this for no more than three weeks and died not from poisoning, but from hunger. She could only call someone by banging with a spoon, since her vocal cords were burned. The burned esophagus caused severe pain and only allowed me to drink, and only in small sips. And she couldn’t eat anything at all.

This dangerous thing is on our shelves. Although all of the above applies to an 80% solution, a smaller percentage is not at all harmless, there is simply less damage with the same dose. Still, this is not lemonade, but a real acid, chemically active. It is, of course, a necessary thing in the household, but don’t be too lazy to check whether the bottle is labeled and whether children will be able to reach it. Or a drunk husband...

Acetic acid poisoning is life-threatening. Accidental or intentional use of the substance causes burns to the mucous membrane, severe intoxication of the body, and swelling of the respiratory tract.

Symptoms of poisoning depend on the amount and concentration of vinegar. If vinegar essence (30-80%) is drunk, a person experiences a painful shock, he cannot breathe, swallow, and loses consciousness. Bloody vomiting may occur. With a small amount of table vinegar drunk (3-9%), a strong burning sensation in the throat, pain in the stomach, weakness, the consciousness of the poisoned person becomes confused, the voice becomes hoarse, and difficulties arise with breathing and swallowing.

You need to act very quickly. First of all, we call an ambulance. Then the person needs to be given some water to rinse his mouth. Lay the victim on his side to avoid vomit entering the respiratory tract. It is strictly forbidden to rinse the stomach on your own or induce vomiting.

Acetic acid

Acetic acid is a flammable, colorless liquid with a pungent odor. It is obtained by acetic acid fermentation of ethyl alcohol.

There are different types of vinegars:

• glacial acetic acid (concentration almost 100%);
• vinegar essence (30-80%);
• table vinegar (3, 6, 9, 12%).

The substance is used in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Table vinegar (apple, grape) is found in almost every home. Indispensable for preservation - most marinades are prepared on its basis. Some housewives use vinegar as a disinfectant and odor remover.

When acetic acid enters the human body, it causes a chemical burn to the esophageal mucosa and disrupts the functioning of internal organs - the liver, kidneys, stomach and others. If help is not provided in a timely manner and treatment is not started, the poisoned person may die.

Clinical picture of poisoning

Vinegar poisoning can be fatal within the first 5 days. Surviving patients become disabled (in 99% of cases).

The clinical picture is usually as follows:

1. The first 5-10 days. The so-called acute period. The victim feels unbearable pain in the mouth, throat and lower esophagus. Damage to the vocal cords leads to hoarseness and loss of voice. Salivation increases and the swallowing reflex is impaired. Periodically, vomiting occurs, often mixed with scarlet blood. Vapors of acetic acid, penetrating the respiratory tract, cause swelling, difficulty breathing, and pneumonia.
2. 30 days. If the victim survives, then after the acute period his general condition improves - the pain subsides, he begins to drink and eat on his own. There are no scars yet, but there is a rejection of dead (burnt) tissue. This process is dangerous due to perforation of the walls of the esophagus, bleeding, infection, and the development of pneumonia.
3. 2-4 months - 3 years. During this period, the damaged tissue is replaced by connective (scar) tissue. As a result, the esophagus narrows (stricture), and its ability to contract and stretch is lost. The swallowing reflex is disrupted, food ceases to be digested properly. Late symptoms of vinegar poisoning: heartburn, increased salivation, putrid breath, belching, vomiting, discomfort and stomach pain.

The first signs of poisoning

The first thing that indicates poisoning with acetic acid is the characteristic smell of vomit from the victim’s mouth and a sharp cutting pain in the throat. When inhaling vapors, a runny nose, headache, burning sensation in the nasopharynx, dizziness, and sometimes vomiting occur. Depending on the severity of vinegar poisoning, the following symptoms are observed:

• swelling of the throat;
• confusion, loss of consciousness;
• pressure drop;
• skin cold to the touch;
• swallowing disorder;
• increased salivation;
• difficulty wheezing;
• severe pain syndrome;
• tachycardia;
• vomit;
• the appearance of blood in urine, feces, vomit;
• paroxysmal cough;
• lack of appetite;
• hoarseness;
• decreased or absent urination;
• black color of stool.

Severity

The severity of poisoning can be affected by the age of the patient, the general condition of the body, the simultaneous intake of other toxic substances, the speed of assistance, the concentration and amount of acetic acid.

There are three degrees of severity:

1. Easy. It is observed when swallowing 5-10 ml of table vinegar or inhaling vinegar fumes. It is characterized by a burn of the mucous membrane of the mouth, nasopharynx, and upper parts of the esophagus. Does not cause serious consequences.
2. Average. This degree is characterized by severe burns of the mucous membranes of the mouth, esophagus, and stomach. The poisoned person's urine turns pink, vomiting and confusion occur. Complications develop in the form of acidosis, hemolysis, hemoglobinuria, and moderate blood thickening. Requires hospitalization and long-term treatment.
3. Heavy. Accompanied by severe pain in the epigastric region, behind the sternum, repeated vomiting, and staining of urine scarlet or dark red. The victim may lose consciousness. Without assistance, death occurs from painful shock or acute renal failure.

Poisoning with vinegar essence is the most severe: the lethal dose of 70% concentrate is 308 mg/kg; To die, an adult man only needs to drink 40 ml of the substance.

Poisoning from vinegar vapors is less dangerous. With short-term exposure to a toxic substance, only the nasopharyngeal mucosa is affected, and mild intoxication of the body may occur. Usually after a few days the victim’s condition returns to normal. With prolonged exposure to vinegar fumes, gastritis (inflammation of the gastric mucosa) develops.

First aid

In a critical situation, it is important to calm down and stop panicking. The life of the victim depends on the correctness and speed of action.

First aid for acetic acid poisoning:

1. Call an ambulance.
2. If the poisoned person has not lost consciousness, let him rinse his mouth with water. Only after this can the poisoned person be given a small amount of liquid to drink (milk, water, mucous decoction).
3. Ice can be used for pain relief. It should be applied to the stomach and allowed to be swallowed in small pieces (after cleansing the mouth). If you have the drug Almagel A in your first aid kit, you can give the victim 2 measuring spoons.
4. If a person is unconscious, you should check his pulse and breathing. If necessary, you should unbutton your shirt and, tilting the victim’s head back, perform mouth-to-nose artificial respiration and perform a cardiac massage. To do this, you need to sharply blow air into your nose 2 times, then sharply press on your chest 15 times (12 seconds), again 2 vigorous blows (3 seconds), 15 heart compressions. Continue resuscitation measures until the ambulance arrives.
5. To prevent ingestion of vomit, the poisoned person should be thrown over his knee with his stomach down or laid on his side.

What you should not do if you are poisoned by vinegar:

• give the victim plenty of water;
• give vomiting agents;
• induce vomiting with fingers;
• Give a solution of soda and water or other folk remedies.

Treatment

The ambulance immediately hospitalizes the injured person. If the patient is in a serious, unconscious condition, then he is sent to the intensive care unit, where resuscitation measures are carried out. For the remaining patients, upon arrival, the stomach is washed through a tube with 10 liters of water. Next, treatment is carried out aimed at restoring the damaged mucosa, relieving symptoms, preventing complications and normalizing organ functions.

The patient may be prescribed:

• painkillers;
• antibiotics;
• antispasmodics;
• glutargic acid;
• hormonal drugs;
• stimulation of urination with alkalization of blood;
• hemodialysis;
• transfusion of blood components.

At first, nutrition is provided parenterally (through injections of nutrients). Almagel and sea buckthorn oil are prescribed orally for tissue regeneration. After 3 weeks, if necessary, bougienage of the esophagus is performed (restoring patency). If it is established that there was a deliberate attempt to poison oneself (for the purpose of suicide), the victim is registered with a psychiatrist. After treatment, he is prescribed a course of psychological rehabilitation.

In case of poisoning by acetic acid vapor, the victim is prescribed peach or apricot oil instilled into the nose. It is also necessary to take a drug with anti-inflammatory and antibronchoconstrictor activity (Erespal and its analogues).

Vinegar poisoning never goes away without a trace - even with successful and timely treatment, the structure of the mucous membrane changes in patients. Subsequently, diseases of the digestive system develop - gastritis, esophagitis, disturbances of the acid-base balance, protein metabolism, etc. To avoid poisoning with acetic acid, preventive measures should be taken. Dangerous liquids must be kept out of the reach of children. If you are suicidal, you should visit a psychiatrist.

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Acetic acid is a substance that has long been widely used in cooking, industry, chemical and pharmaceutical production. There are many varieties of this acid. The most common are table and apple cider vinegar, which can be found in absolutely every home. However, this product is not always as safe as it seems at first glance. Improper use can cause vinegar poisoning, which often causes irreversible consequences.

Poisoning with vinegar essence in most cases occurs accidentally, when the substance is carelessly mistaken for water or another liquid. Small children may mistake malic acid for lemonade because it is yellow in color.

Poisoning from vinegar vapors often occurs at work when workers do not pay due attention to safety precautions.

The effect of acid on the body

Many people have wondered what will happen if they drink vinegar. The effect of this acid on the human body is largely reminiscent of the effect of sulfuric or hydrochloric acid. A distinctive feature is the more superficial effect of the substance.

If you drink vinegar 9% in a small dosage, then no health problems will arise. You can get poisoned if you drink a large amount of vinegar, or take a diluted solution with a concentration of 30% orally.

Approximately 12 ml of pure acid is lethal to humans. This dose is equal to 250 ml of table vinegar, or 40 ml of 70% vinegar essence.

Death can occur from the following complications:

1. Chemical damage to tissues and internal organs with painful shock, coagulation of the mucous membrane, heavy blood loss from ulcers.
2. Due to increased acidity of the environment, red blood cells and other enzymes of blood cells are destroyed, which leads to kidney dysfunction.
3. Cell breakdown products clog blood vessels, leading to kidney dysfunction.
4. Due to malnutrition, vital internal organs suffer.

A distinctive feature is that this acid perfectly dissolves lipids, is well absorbed into the blood and spreads to all vital organs.

Signs of poisoning

In case of vinegar poisoning, the symptoms will differ depending on the amount of solution drunk and its concentration. Also, the fullness of the stomach with food at the time of consuming acid and the speed of the gag reflex will affect the possible consequences.

If you drink vinegar, the initial signs of poisoning will be:

Depending on the severity of the situation, there are 3 stages of poisoning, which are characterized by their own symptoms:

1. Mild degree. It appears in a person if he drank vinegar in small quantities or in low concentration. In this case, burns of the oral cavity and larynx are observed, the blood system is not harmed, and the internal organs are practically not affected.
2. Average degree. This stage is characterized by more severe burns, the stomach is especially affected, and blood thickening is observed.
3. Severe degree. In this case, the digestive tract suffers the most, the upper respiratory tract is affected, swelling of the bronchi and lungs develops, shortness of breath and vomiting occur, and the person is accompanied by severe pain. The consequences of poisoning at this stage are painful, hypovolemic, hemorrhagic shock. They can be fatal within a short period. During a state of shock, blood pressure drops, cardiac activity is disrupted, the skin becomes cold, and consciousness is clouded.

Sometimes the cause of poisoning is vinegar vapor. In this case, symptoms such as runny nose, cough, and watery eyes appear. If you inhale vinegar vapor, general poisoning of the entire body is unlikely. Chemical damage to the upper respiratory system can occur if you inhale concentrated acetic acid vapor through an inhaler.

First aid to the victim

You need to know what to do after drinking vinegar to alleviate the condition. The question of whether it is possible to do without the help of doctors should not arise. First of all, an ambulance is called. At home, initially, as with any chemical intoxication, it is necessary to take urgent measures to neutralize the acid in the body and alleviate the patient’s condition.

The main thing is that the victim needs to rinse his stomach. This must be done quickly and carefully so as not to injure the walls of the stomach. To do this, the patient is given a lot of warm water to drink, up to 10 liters.

It is strictly forbidden to induce vomiting. Neutralization of acid involves the use of burnt magnesia and almagel. The gastric lavage procedure should be carried out no later than 2 hours after the vinegar enters the body.

To alleviate the condition, the victim can be given a few tablespoons of sunflower oil, a mixture of eggs and milk. You can also mix eggs with water in a ratio of 4 whites per 1 liter of water.

After successful gastric lavage, you should try to eliminate pain. It is better to do this with the help of injections, using analgesics, and narcotics for severe pain.

After first aid measures, the victim is sent to the hospital for further examination and intensive care.

How to prevent vinegar poisoning? Prevention measures

Natural table vinegar is made from fermented fruits, that is, it is peroxidized and purified wine. More precisely, oxidized ethanol. Wine vinegar is made from grape wine. From apple wine - apple cider vinegar. Table vinegar usually has a concentration of 6-9%.

Synthetic acetic acid is made from wood waste. It can be assumed that the so-called “apple” and “wine” vinegar are probably produced from the same wood by dilution, flavoring and coloring. Although in many countries it is prohibited to use synthetic acetic acid for food purposes.

Vinegar essence has a high concentration (70%). There is also “glacial acetic acid” with a concentration of 98-99%. There are even pieces of ice floating in it at room temperature. This pure acid is produced for chemical laboratories. It can also be used as food, you just need to dilute it with water in a ratio of 1 part acid to 20 parts water (you get 5% table vinegar).

Symptoms of poisoning and the course of the poisoning itself will vary depending on the concentration of the liquid drunk.

Vinegar is usually drunk by mistake, by drunkards who want to “add more”, or by completely crazy “suicides”. I say abnormal because it’s hard to think of a more terrible and painful way to lose one’s life. In psychiatry, it is believed that a normal person has such a strong sense of self-preservation that he cannot commit suicide. That is, if it can, it means it’s not normal.

In case of poisoning with food vinegar 6-9%, a burn of the mucous membrane of the esophagus occurs of varying degrees of severity, depending on the amount drunk. If you drink 1-2 sips, poisoning is usually limited to a mild superficial burn of the esophagus and can pass without consequences. When drinking 50-200 grams or more, more severe consequences are possible - the acid is absorbed in the stomach and intestines and enters the internal organs and tissues. First of all, the blood - red blood cells - erythrocytes suffers. Their cell wall is destroyed, hemoglobin from the cells enters the blood and clogs the small blood vessels of the kidneys, causing kidney failure. Circulation of toxins in the blood causes liver failure. In severe cases of the disease, death is possible.

If you take a few sips of vinegar essence or acid, then damage to the esophagus comes first - a strong, deep, large-area burn; a person can die from painful shock. If he recovered from the painful shock and survived, then damage to the internal organs - blood, liver, kidneys - is inevitable. If medicine saves him here too - with operations, numerous injections, blood purification using an “artificial kidney” apparatus, then scars will remain in the esophagus for life, which will gradually narrow its lumen and again he will have to turn to medicine for the next painful operations. In general, disability, suffering and communication with medicine for the rest of my life.

Therefore, be careful. It is better not to keep such dangerous things at home, or, if absolutely necessary, to keep them well closed, in special containers, from which it is immediately clear that this is not drink, say, chemical bottles made of dark glass with ground-in caps. Stick on a sticky plaster, write “POISON!!,” draw a skull and crossbones, put it in a distant drawer, close it well so that neither your children nor your tipsy relatives even think about joking with it. After all, no one is immune from mistakes.

If trouble does occur, the first thing to do in case of poisoning with strong vinegar is to immediately rinse your mouth and throat, gargle with water or a weak solution of soda. Then give them a few glasses of cool water, or ice water, to drink. Call an ambulance very quickly and tell them what happened. Under no circumstances should you give the soda solution to drink or induce vomiting, so that the damaged walls of the esophagus do not burst. Just drink water to dilute the vinegar inside, the more the better. You can put something cold on the stomach area, for example, ice wrapped in a towel.

The first specialized aid consists of gastric lavage using a tube, a painful procedure after a burn, but extremely necessary and very effective.

If the concentration of the solution is small and you only drink one or two sips, then you don’t have to panic and use “home remedies” - rinse your mouth, rinse your stomach, drink water or milk. But if there is pain, dizziness, agitation or lethargy, then you need to see a doctor, the sooner the better.

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Question:
A bottle of vinegar broke! I smelled it while I was cleaning, could some kind of poisoning occur?
Answer:
Vinegar, when inhaled its vapors, can cause irritation of the mucous membranes - cough, runny nose, lacrimation, but is unlikely to cause general poisoning of the body.

Question:
We have apple cider vinegar from 1999, threw it away, my mother-in-law took it out of the trash can and put it back in its place. What harm could there be in it and how can I convince her to throw it away?
Answer:
Vinegar is a very good preservative and hardly spoils. But nevertheless, its expiration date must be indicated on the packaging. If the vinegar has expired, use it for household needs. For example, you can wipe the refrigerator with vinegar after washing; it removes unpleasant odors well; Use vinegar to wipe dishes, glass, mirrors - they will shine better. And buy fresh vinegar for your mother-in-law.

Question:
My mother was poisoned with 70% vinegar. and she drinks the broth, rubs it through a sieve, and when she swallows, drool accumulates and then spits it out. Is it necessary to dilate the larynx?
Answer:
The information you provided is not enough to resolve the issue of surgery. An objective examination of the patient is required. To obtain the correct recommendation, please contact specialist surgeons. Personal opinion - even after a very good operation, the body will not be “like new”, but maybe life will be a little easier. Do not forget that every operation is a risk and anesthesia - that is, a load on the head and body.

Question:
I rinsed my daughter's hair with 10 glasses of water and 1 glass of 9% vinegar, can I get poisoned?
Answer:
When applied externally in small concentrations, vinegar usually does not cause poisoning.

Question:
My son is 1 year and 4 months old. I found 70% acetic acid in my sister’s refrigerator and licked it... Some droplet got into his mouth, and he started crying (well, it’s definitely unpleasant and not tasty)... I washed his mouth with cold water and I gave him water with a small pinch of soda to drink. Nothing will happen to him... There are no threats?!?
Answer:
If you don’t know for sure whether he licked or sipped, consult a doctor. Examine your mouth carefully. If there are traces of burns, then it is likely that there are also burns in the esophagus. In this case, medical supervision is necessary.

Question:
I drink in moderation. But my wife added vinegar to the vodka and I drank 100 ml. What can happen to the body?
Answer:
Acute kidney failure may occur to the body. Depends on the amount and concentration of vinegar drunk. And how can a person who drinks in moderation not notice what he is drinking? Vinegar is not water; its taste and smell are quite noticeable.

Question:
How quickly is vinegar removed from the body, does it remain in the organs?
Answer:
Small amounts of vinegar are eliminated within a few hours and do not remain in the body.

Question:
I was preparing salad dressing and cooking balsamic vinegar and honey on the stove. I leaned over to smell it and the sharp smell of vinegar hit my mouth and nose; I could feel this taste in my throat for a long time. In the evening my throat hurt, I don’t have tonsils and have never had a sore throat, but now my throat is hurting terribly! Please tell me what needs to be done to remove this pain (for 3 days already)
Answer:
Perhaps the mucous membrane was burned by acid and an infection got on the burned surface. Try gargling with a solution of salt and soda (1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of soda, pour a glass of warm water, stir well until almost completely dissolved), gargle well with a decoction of herbs (chamomile, sage). If the temperature rises and if the pain does not go away, consult a doctor for examination and consultation.

Question:
Daughter is 10 years old. We treated the head with vinegar (there were nits), the hair smelled very much like vinegar, only after several rinses the smell went away. After 1-2 days, our eyelids became swollen, then there was a rise in temperature. According to ultrasound, the spleen is enlarged, there is lymphocytosis and thrombopenia in the blood, rods-2, monocytes-8, while the child’s condition is not affected, there are no complaints, except for fatigue in the evenings??? Please answer, is this condition possible due to a possible sharp concentration of acetic acid (dilute 9% in half and rinse your hair?
Answer:
It is unlikely that this condition is caused by vinegar poisoning. Perhaps my daughter suffered a viral infection during this period.

Question:
01478 If the mucous membrane of the lips is burned by vinegar essence. How can you treat a burn like this?
Answer:
If the burn is superficial - only redness and swelling, then the burn site should be rinsed well with clean water or a weak soda solution, several times, repeatedly, again after a few minutes. If possible, immerse your lips in water for a few minutes. This burn does not require special treatment. For some time - a day or two - you need to avoid eating spicy, hot and cold foods. In the event that the burn is deep, with damage to the mucous membrane, if there are ulcers, bleeding, or the skin peels off, also carefully and carefully wash off the remaining acid from the skin and mucous membrane and seek medical help.

Question:
01855 I decided to cook fish and onions in vinegar and diluted 1.5 tablespoons of 70% vinegar in a glass of water (about 180-200 g), poured in the fish and onions and after 15 minutes diluted with another 2 glasses of ordinary water and after an hour I drained everything and filled it with clean water again. water and drained! I ate it and after a couple of hours there was a strange taste in my mouth and maybe it was burning in my stomach from fear! Could I have caused serious harm?
Answer:
Interesting technology for cooking fish :-). What kind of fish was it - raw, salted, pickled, boiled? Was it fresh enough? At such a low concentration, vinegar could hardly affect a healthy stomach. but if the fish was “second fresh,” it could give an unpleasant taste.

Question:
01985 My mother drank 70% vinegar. What can you do? Please help. She is suffering a lot.
Answer:
Vinegar poisoning can have very serious consequences. One or two drops cannot do much harm, but even one or two spoons of a concentrated solution can be life-threatening. You should contact your doctor immediately.

The lethal dose of acetic acid (80% solution) is 20-40 ml, table vinegar - 200 ml. Acetic acid, like other acids, corrodes the mucous membranes of the mouth, esophagus, and stomach, and can lead to their perforation.

Acid poisons, when absorbed into the body, affect vital organs, leading to the development of severe renal failure, from which the patient dies.

Acute intoxication as a result of ingestion of acetic acid is primarily characterized by a clinical picture of chemical burn disease, during which it is possible to distinguish the stages of shock and initial manifestations of intoxication, toxemia, infectious complications, stenosis of the lumens of the esophagus and gastric outlet, burn asthenia and, finally, the recovery stage ( if it comes to her).

There are mild, moderate and severe acid poisoning. A mild degree is characterized by a chemical burn that spreads to the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, pharynx, and esophagus. Internal organs suffer slightly. In case of moderate poisoning, the burn also affects the stomach. Shock phenomena may occur. Damage to the liver and kidneys is moderate. Blood is characterized by hemolysis. In severe forms, ulcerative-necrotic processes develop in the gastrointestinal tract (up to the large intestine). A severe chemical burn also affects the respiratory tract. Irreversible processes often occur in the liver and kidneys.

As a rule, in case of poisoning with vinegar essence, psychomotor agitation is noted, which is soon replaced by confusion and complete indifference to the environment. Tachycardia and shortness of breath increase. Diuresis decreases. The main causes of death are intoxication and shock.

First aid measures should be aimed at removing acid from the victim’s digestive tract. Immediately (while calling an ambulance), begin rinsing the stomach with cold (but not warm) water, which will require 8-10 liters. Persuade the victim, overcoming the pain, to undergo this procedure. Before gastric lavage, inject subcutaneously 2 ml of a 2% solution of papaverine, as well as 1 ml of a 0.1% solution of atropine. Also administer cardiovascular drugs and 1 ml of a 1% solution of the antihistamine diphenhydramine or a 2% solution of suprastin.

In order to neutralize the acid, give the victim a solution of baking soda, and also drink milk.

If a person has drunk a large amount of vinegar essence (say, for the purpose of suicide), then rinsing the stomach is strictly prohibited in order to avoid complications (increased vomiting, swelling of the larynx, acid entering the respiratory tract, gastric bleeding).