Should gastric lavage be performed immediately during oral sulfate poisoning?

In general, gastric lavage should not be immediately performed in cases of oral sulfuric acid ingestion. If discomfort occurs, prompt medical attention is recommended. Detailed analysis is as follows:

Sulfuric acid is a highly corrosive strong acid that can cause extensive tissue damage. After accidental ingestion, sulfuric acid rapidly passes through the esophagus into the stomach, causing severe burns to the mucous membranes of the esophagus and stomach. At this point, immediate gastric lavage may cause further harm because sulfuric acid reacts with water and releases a large amount of heat. This heat can further damage the gastrointestinal mucosa and may even lead to serious complications such as gastric perforation.

In the emergency treatment of sulfuric acid poisoning via oral ingestion, it is advisable to immediately rinse the mouth thoroughly with large amounts of water to dilute and flush away any residual sulfuric acid, thereby reducing further damage to the oral mucosa. As sulfuric acid is an acidic substance, alkaline agents such as sodium bicarbonate solution may be used to neutralize the acid and reduce irritation to the esophageal and gastric mucosa. However, these alkaline agents should be used under the guidance of a physician to avoid causing additional damage due to improper use. If the patient is conscious and has not developed severe symptoms such as shock, emesis may also be induced by stimulating the back of the throat with a finger to help expel some of the sulfuric acid from the body.

In any case of chemical poisoning, immediate professional medical assistance should be sought and treatment should follow the guidance of healthcare professionals. Self-administered interventions should be avoided to prevent exacerbating the injury or delaying appropriate treatment.