Toilet bowl cleaners

• acids
• lye
• sodium acid sulfate
• sodium phosphate

Where Found:

• various toilet bowl cleaners including automatic ones

Symptoms:
for acids and sodium acid sulfate:

• from swallowing
  • body as a whole
    • severe pain in the mouth
    • fever

  • respiratory
    • inability to breathe due to the throat swelling shut

  • eyes, ears, nose, and throat
    • severe pain in the throat

  • gastrointestinal
    • severe abdominal pain
    • vomit containing dark colored blood

  • heart and blood vessels
    • rapid drop in blood pressure

• from inhalation
  • body as a whole
    • weakness
    • tight chest

  • respiratory
    • coughing
    • shortness of breath
    • coughing up blood

  • eyes, ears, nose, and throat
    • choking

  • skin
    • skin discoloration, bluish (lips and nails)

  • heart and blood vessels
    • low blood pressure
    • rapid pulse

  • nervous system
    • dizziness

for lye and sodium phosphate

• body as a whole
  • severe pain in the mouth
  • collapse

• respiratory
  • inability to breathe due to the throat swelling shut

• eyes, ears, nose, and throat
  • severe pain in the throat

• gastrointestinal
  • severe abdominal pain
  • diarrhea

• heart and blood vessels
  • rapid drop in blood pressure (low blood pressure)

Home Treatment:
For acids and sodium acid sulfate: DO NOT INDUCE EMESIS ( VOMITING ). If on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes. If swallowed, drink water or milk IMMEDIATELY If the patient is vomiting, keep giving water or milk.

For inhalation poisoning, remove the patient to fresh air.

For lye and sodium phosphate: DO NOT INDUCE EMESIS (VOMITING).

If on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes.

If swallowed, drink water or milk IMMEDIATELY If the patient is vomiting, keep giving water or milk. DO NOT TRY TO NEUTRALIZE by giving vinegar or lemon juice, this may cause more severe burning.

Determine the following information:

• the patient's age, weight, and condition
• the name of the product (as well as the ingredients and strength if known)
• the time it was swallowed
• the amount swallowed

Call Poison Control:
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:
Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:
for acids and sodium acid sulfate:

• for swallowed poison
  • Give fluids.
  • Treat the symptoms.

• for inhalation
  • Treat the symptoms.

for lye and sodium phosphate

• for swallowed poison
  • Give fluids.
  • Treat the symptoms.

• for inhalation
  • Treat the symptoms.

Prognosis:
For acids and sodium acid sulfate: The prognosis (probable outcome) will be dependent on how rapidly the acid was diluted. Extensive damage to the mouth, throat, and stomach are possible. The ultimate outcome will be dependent on the extent of this damage.

For lye and sodium phosphate: The prognosis (probable outcome) will be dependent on how rapidly the alkali was diluted and neutralized. Extensive damage to the mouth, throat, and stomach are possible. The ultimate outcome will be dependent on the extent of this damage. Damage continues to occur to the esophagus and stomach for several weeks after the alkali was swallowed. If initial symptoms are extremely severe, death may occur as long as a month after the alkali was swallowed