Sodium hydroxide is a very strong chemical. It is also known as lye and caustic soda. This article discusses poisoning from touching, breathing in (inhaling), or swallowing sodium hydroxide.

This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call the local emergency number (such as 911) or the local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.

Poisonous Ingredient

Sodium hydroxide

Where Found

Sodium hydroxide is found in many industrial solvents and cleaners, including products to strip floors, brick cleaners, cements, and many others.

It may also be found in certain household products, including:

• Aquarium products
• Clinitest tablets
• Drain cleaners
• Hair straighteners
• Metal polishes
• Oven cleaners

Other products also contain sodium hydroxide.

Symptoms

Below are symptoms of sodium hydroxide poisoning or exposure in different parts of the body.

AIRWAYS AND LUNGS

• Breathing difficulty (from inhaling sodium hydroxide)
• Lung inflammation
• Sneezing
• Throat swelling (which may also cause breathing difficulty)

ESOPHAGUS, INTESTINES, AND STOMACH

• Blood in the stool
• Burns of the esophagus (food pipe) and stomach
• Diarrhea

  Diarrhea

  Diarrhea is when you pass loose or watery stool.

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• Severe abdominal pain
• Vomiting, possibly bloody

EYES, EARS, NOSE, AND THROAT

• Drooling
• Severe pain in the throat
• Severe pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue
• Vision loss

HEART AND BLOOD

• Collapse
• Low blood pressure (develops rapidly)
• Severe change in blood pH (too much or too little acid in the blood)
• Shock

  Shock

  Shock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body is not getting enough blood flow. Lack of blood flow means the cells and organs do n...

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SKIN

• Burns
• Hives

  Hives

  Hives are raised, usually itchy, red bumps (welts) on the surface of the skin. They can be an allergic reaction to food or medicine. They can also ...

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• Irritation
• Holes in the skin or tissue under the skin

Home Care

Seek medical help right away. Do not make a person throw up unless the poison control or a health care provider tells you to.

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

If the chemical was swallowed, give the person water or milk right away, unless a provider tells you something different. Also, do not give water or milk if the person is having symptoms that make it hard to swallow (such as vomiting, convulsions, or decreased alertness).

If the person breathed in the poison, move them to fresh air right away.

Before Calling Emergency

Have this information ready:

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

Poison Control

The local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You can also get online poison help now at Poisonhelp.org. Just enter the product, poison, or medicine to get expert help.

What to Expect at the Emergency Room

Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.

Your provider will measure and monitor your vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated.

Treatment depends on how the poisoning occurred. Pain medicine will be given. Other treatments may also be given.

For swallowed poison, you may receive:

• Blood tests.
• Chest x-ray.

  Chest x-ray

  A chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.

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• Electrocardiogram (ECG).

  Electrocardiogram

  An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.

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• Endoscopy. The placement of a camera down the throat to see the extent of damage to the esophagus and the stomach.

  Endoscopy

  Endoscopy is a way of looking inside the body using a flexible tube that has a small camera and light on the end of it. This instrument is called an...

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• Intravenous fluids (IV, fluids given through a vein).
• Medicines to treat symptoms.

For inhaled poison, the person may receive:

• Blood tests.
• Breathing support, including oxygen, or a tube that goes through the mouth into the lungs, and attachment to a breathing machine (ventilator).
• Bronchoscopy. Camera is placed down the throat to see damage to the airways and lungs.

  Bronchoscopy

  Bronchoscopy is a test to view the airways and diagnose lung disease. It may also be used during the treatment of some lung conditions.

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• Chest x-ray.
• Intravenous fluids (IV, fluids given through a vein).
• Medicines to treat symptoms.

For skin exposure, the person may receive:

• Irrigation (washing of the skin). Perhaps every few hours for several days.
• Skin debridement (surgical removal of burned skin).
• Ointments applied to the skin.

For eye exposure, the person may receive:

• Extensive irrigation to flush out the eye
• Medicines

Outlook (Prognosis)

How well a person does depends on how fast the poison is diluted and neutralized. Extensive damage to the mouth, throat, eyes, lungs, esophagus, nose, and stomach are possible.

The long-term outcome depends on the extent of this damage. Damage to the esophagus and stomach continues to occur for several weeks after the poison was swallowed. Death may occur as long as a month later.

Keep all poisons in their original or childproof container, with labels visible, and out of the reach of children.

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