eli5: On the packaging of toilet cleaner and an article on mouthwash says that if ingested, do not induce vomitting, why is this? Wouldn’t it be better to get rid of as much of the harmful liquid as possible? What harm can happen if vomitting is induced?
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Lots of chemicals can be harmful if ingested, but what is more harmful is that some of them mix with the stomach acid to create gases, or give off toxic fumes (some do this on their own) which you would inhale while vomiting, damaging the lungs and/or poisoning you that way. In these cases it’s better to just let it run through the system.
Also, vomiting up acidic substance causes damage to the esophagus and other tissue, which can lead to long term health risks.
It would damage the esophagus on the way back up. It could also cause damage to the lungs if aspirated (inhaled.)
It would damage the esophagus on the way back up. It could also cause damage to the lungs if aspirated (inhaled.)
Lots of chemicals can be harmful if ingested, but what is more harmful is that some of them mix with the stomach acid to create gases, or give off toxic fumes (some do this on their own) which you would inhale while vomiting, damaging the lungs and/or poisoning you that way. In these cases it’s better to just let it run through the system.
Also, vomiting up acidic substance causes damage to the esophagus and other tissue, which can lead to long term health risks.
Lots of chemicals can be harmful if ingested, but what is more harmful is that some of them mix with the stomach acid to create gases, or give off toxic fumes (some do this on their own) which you would inhale while vomiting, damaging the lungs and/or poisoning you that way. In these cases it’s better to just let it run through the system.
Also, vomiting up acidic substance causes damage to the esophagus and other tissue, which can lead to long term health risks.
It would damage the esophagus on the way back up. It could also cause damage to the lungs if aspirated (inhaled.)
Toilet bowl cleaner tends to be very acidic. pH of 1-3 depending on the type. You stomach and proximal duodenum have the ability to handle that and neutralize it as it enters your intestines.
Your esophagus however does not and will be damaged twice by vomiting it back up. It’s better to dilute it with water and save the esophagus from more damage.
The effects of chemical scalding of the esophagus can be terrible. Look up spit fistula.
Toilet bowl cleaner tends to be very acidic. pH of 1-3 depending on the type. You stomach and proximal duodenum have the ability to handle that and neutralize it as it enters your intestines.
Your esophagus however does not and will be damaged twice by vomiting it back up. It’s better to dilute it with water and save the esophagus from more damage.
The effects of chemical scalding of the esophagus can be terrible. Look up spit fistula.
Toilet bowl cleaner tends to be very acidic. pH of 1-3 depending on the type. You stomach and proximal duodenum have the ability to handle that and neutralize it as it enters your intestines.
Your esophagus however does not and will be damaged twice by vomiting it back up. It’s better to dilute it with water and save the esophagus from more damage.
The effects of chemical scalding of the esophagus can be terrible. Look up spit fistula.
Other than the specific problems with vomiting up caustic chemicals, inducing vomiting is generally no longer recommended. Ipecac syrup is mildly poisonous itself, inducing vomiting is less effective than alternatives like activated charcoal, if you’re vomiting you won’t be able to keep the activated charcoal down (so the more effective treatment loses effectiveness), and (for cases where you don’t know what poison you consumed) induced vomiting makes diagnosis more difficult.
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