How Do I Treat a Sulfuric Acid Burn?

Sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and nitric acid are more common, in addition to acetic acid (glacial acetic acid), chlorofluoric acid, chlorosulfonic acid, perchloric acid, chromic acid, etc., all are corrosive poisons. In addition to skin burns, the respiratory tract inhales the volatile gases and fog points of these acids (such as sulfuric acid mist and chromic acid mist), and also causes severe irritation of the upper respiratory tract. In severe cases, chemical bronchitis, pneumonia, and pulmonary edema can occur.

Basic Information

English name

acid burn

Visiting department

Burn Plastic Surgery

Common causes

Strong acidic material contact

Common symptoms

Burn surface will have different colors according to different acids, local pain, etc.

Causes of acid burns

Caused by contact with strong acids. There are many types of acid burns. The acids that can cause burns are mainly strong acids such as sulfuric acid, nitric acid and hydrochloric acid. In acid burns, strong acid burns and hydrofluoric acid burns are mainly discussed.

Clinical manifestations of acid burns

Strong acid burn

High concentration of acid can cause coagulation and necrosis of the skin stratum corneum, skin burns with obvious boundaries, and can cause local painful coagulative necrosis. Different types of acid burns have different skin color changes. For example, sulfuric acid burn wounds were blue-black or brown-black; nitric acid burns turned yellow first, and then turned yellow-brown; hydrochloric acid burns turned yellow-blue; trichloroacetic acid wounds were white and soft first, and then turned to bronze. In addition, the change in color is related to the depth of the acid burn. Fuchsia is the lightest, while gray, brownish yellow, or black is darker.

The softness of palate skin is also one of the methods to judge the depth of acid burns. Those who are shallower are softer, and those who are deeper are tougher. They are usually scaly or leathery, but sometimes they are softer in the early stage and later tougher.

2. Hydrofluoric acid burns

Hydrofluoric acid is a highly corrosive inorganic acid. Unlike hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid, the biological effect of hydrofluoric acid includes two stages. First, it acts on the surface tissue as an etchant like other inorganic acids. Second, it can cause tissue liquefaction and necrosis due to the stronger penetrating power of fluoride ions. , Bone decalcification and delayed deep pain in deep tissues.

The degree of hydrofluoric skin burns is directly related to the concentration and duration of hydrofluoric acid. At a concentration of 20%, there are local erythema with central necrosis. Further local erythema can gradually develop into a white, harder blister, which is filled with purulent or casein-like substances. Severe hydrofluoric acid burns can cause systemic poisoning of fluoride ions and cause fatal hypocalcemia.

Acid burn check

Same as thermal burns. If necessary, the blood content of toxic acidic chemicals should be determined.

Differential diagnosis of acid burns

It is mainly distinguished from alkali burns, radiation burns, and fire burns. Medical history can be identified with specific exposure to acidic chemicals.

Acid Burn Treatment

1. Immediately take off or cut off contaminated work clothes, underwear, shoes and socks, etc., and quickly wash the wound with a large amount of running water for 10-20 minutes. Especially for sulfuric acid burns, use a large amount of water to quickly rinse, except for washing and dilution In addition to sulfuric acid, the heat generated by sulfuric acid and water can be washed away.

2. After initial rinsing, wet compress with 5% sodium bicarbonate solution for 5 to 10 minutes, and then rinse with water for about 5 minutes.

3. Debride, remove other pollutants, cover sterilized gauze and send to hospital.

4. For those who inhale in the respiratory tract and have cough, inhale 5% sodium bicarbonate.

5. If the eye is also splashed, flush the eyelid with 1% ~ 3% sodium bicarbonate solution or normal saline. The patient can also immerse the face in the basin water to clean it by himself.

6. It is not advisable to take gastric lavage for oral administration, especially those who have been taking oral administration for a period of time, in order to prevent gastric perforation. You can drink water and then take about 200 ml of milk, protein or peanut oil. Sodium bicarbonate should not be taken orally to avoid the generation of carbon dioxide and increase the risk of gastric perforation. A large amount of oral strong acid and untimely on-site emergency treatment should be sent to the hospital for treatment.

Rinsing with water immediately after an acid burn is the most important first aid measure. Generally, neutralizers are not required after washing. If necessary, the wound can be treated with 2% to 5% sodium bicarbonate, 2.5% magnesium hydroxide, or soapy water. After neutralization, a large amount of clean water should still be used to remove the remaining neutralization solution, the heat generated by the neutralization process, and the neutralized products.