| Subject | Contents |
| Definition | Anti-rust products contain various toxic substances that can be ingested by small children, or they may be accidentally inhaled if they are being used in a small, poorly-ventilated area, such as a garage. |
| Alternative Names | |
| Poisonous Ingredient | nitrites oxalic acid hydrocarbons chelating agents |
| Where Found | various anti-rust products |
| Symptoms | RespiratoryBreathing difficulty (from inhalation) Throat swelling (which may also cause breathing difficulty) Eyes, ears, nose, and throat Severe pain in the throat Severe pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue Loss of vision Gastrointestinal Severe abdominal pain Vomiting Burns of the esophagus (food pipe) Vomiting blood Blood in the stool Heart and blood vessels Hypotension ( low blood pressure ) develops rapidly Collapse Skin Irritation Burn Necrosis (holes) in the skin or underlying tissues Blood Severe change in pH (too much or too little acid in the blood, which leads to damage in all of the body organs) methemoglobinemia, a condition where the red blood cells have reduced capacity to carry oxygen to the tissues Kidneys renal failure |
| Home Treatment | Seek emergency medical care immediately. If the patient is awake, give water to dilute. Do not induce vomiting. |
| Before Calling Emergency | Determine the following information: the patient's age, weight, and condition the name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known) the time it was swallowed the amount swallowed |
| Poison Control, or a local emergency number | They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room. |
| What to expect at the emergency room | Some or all of the following procedures may be performed: For swallowed poison
Placement of a tube down the nose and into the stomach (a nasogastric tube, or an NG tube) to wash out the stomach Activated charcoal administration Endoscopy -- the placement of a camera down the throat to see the extent of burns to the esophagus and the stomach Give IV fluids Admission to the hospital Give an antidote Treat the symptoms For inhaled poisons
A breathing tube may need to be inserted Oxygen Admission to the hospital or to the intensive care unit Bronchoscopy (inserting a camera down the throat into the airway to evaluate the extent of burns to the airway and lungs) For skin exposure
Irrigation (washing of the skin), perhaps every few hours for several days Skin debridement (surgical removal of burned skin) Admission or transfer to a hospital that specializes in burn care |
| Expectations (prognosis) | The prognosis (probable outcome) depends on how rapidly the poisons were diluted and neutralized. Extensive damage to the mouth, throat, eyes, lungs, esophagus, nose, and stomach are possible. The ultimate outcome depends on the extent of this damage. Damage continues to occur to the kidneys, liver, esophagus and stomach for several weeks after the substance was swallowed, and death may occur as long as a month later. |
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