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What Are The Repercussions Of Drinking Harpic?
Posted on
Thu, 28 Jan 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 28 Jan 2016
Answered on
Thu, 17 Mar 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : My friend drank half bottle of Harpic..and he is refusing to go to hospital.. Will it cause any effects??
Brief Answer:
He needs to be examined by doctors in the hospital at the earliest.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX Hi & Welcome to HCM.
I understand your concern for your beloved friend.
Harpic toilet cleaner contains hydrochloric acid (corrosive in nature) as one of its ingredients. It can damage/burn the lining of the throat, esophagus (the food pipe) and stomach which can result in ulcer formation or strictures over the next few days to weeks.
It can also cause bleeding from ulcers and scar formation in the later stages which will prevent him from swallowing food by causing obstruction in the path of ingested food. This is potentially life threatening if not evaluated immediately.
As a responsible friend you must convince him & take help from others around you and take him to hospital for proper medical checkup and to rule out any serious adverse effects.
Doctors will give him medicines to prevent the bad effects of Harpic ingestion and also give antibiotics for treating any infection due to the Harpic he drank.
Since Harpic is corrosive in nature, stomach wash can be harmful. So do not try inducing vomiting; instead you can give him some antacid supension like Gelusil 5 to 10ml immediately.
Recovery is good, but please rush to the hospital at the earliest so that the treatment can begin immediately.
Hope the suggestions given above would be useful to him.
Best regards.
He needs to be examined by doctors in the hospital at the earliest.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX Hi & Welcome to HCM.
I understand your concern for your beloved friend.
Harpic toilet cleaner contains hydrochloric acid (corrosive in nature) as one of its ingredients. It can damage/burn the lining of the throat, esophagus (the food pipe) and stomach which can result in ulcer formation or strictures over the next few days to weeks.
It can also cause bleeding from ulcers and scar formation in the later stages which will prevent him from swallowing food by causing obstruction in the path of ingested food. This is potentially life threatening if not evaluated immediately.
As a responsible friend you must convince him & take help from others around you and take him to hospital for proper medical checkup and to rule out any serious adverse effects.
Doctors will give him medicines to prevent the bad effects of Harpic ingestion and also give antibiotics for treating any infection due to the Harpic he drank.
Since Harpic is corrosive in nature, stomach wash can be harmful. So do not try inducing vomiting; instead you can give him some antacid supension like Gelusil 5 to 10ml immediately.
Recovery is good, but please rush to the hospital at the earliest so that the treatment can begin immediately.
Hope the suggestions given above would be useful to him.
Best regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
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