Table of Contents
What happens after drinking kerosene?
The principal adverse effect arising from ingestion of kerosene is chemical pneumonitis secondary to aspiration of vomitus. Ingestion of kerosene or acute exposure to vapour may lead to general signs of intoxication such as mild CNS symptoms (dizziness, headache, nausea) and vomiting.
Is it safe to drink kerosene?
Ingestion of kerosene is harmful and can be fatal. Kerosene is sometimes recommended as an old folk remedy for killing head lice, but health agencies warn against this type of kerosene use due to the risk of burns and serious illness.
What happens if you drink lamp oil?
The oils are similar in appearance to beverages (especially if colouring has been added) and may be packaged in containers that resemble drink containers. When taken by mouth, lamp oils can get into the lungs and cause pneumonia, permanent lung damage or death.
Why gastric lavage is contraindicated in kerosene poisoning?
Avoid gastric lavage because of the risk of inhalation and hence pneumonitis. If very large amounts of kerosene have been ingested less than an hour earlier then lavage may be considered if the airway can be protected by expert intubation.
What happens if you accidentally drink kerosene?
If absorbed into the blood stream can lower the blood pressure very rapidly which can damage the heart. Drinking Kerosene can damage the nervous system too. People will feel drowsy, depressed, headaches, feel drunk, weak, dizzy and staggering. Kerosene can burn the skin and cause irritation. What to do if you accidentally drink kerosene?
What is kerosene used for?
Kerosene is an oil used as a fuel for lamps, as well as heating and cooking. This article discusses the harmful effects from swallowing or breathing in kerosene.
What happens if kerosene gets into the lungs?
If kerosene gets into the lungs (aspiration), serious and, possibly, permanent lung damage can occur. Nelson LS. Acute poisoning. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 102. Gummin DD. Hydrocarbons.
Can a child drink kerosene from a container?
If you have an uncovered container of kerosene sitting still in a corner and it is untouched, you will not really smell it until someone upsets it. Here is the dilemma. If a child is thirsty and an adult is not around, the child might be inclined to drink the kerosene by drinking directly from the container.