Almost every person has experienced intoxication of the body. Vomiting and diarrhea, stomach pain are very unpleasant symptoms. There may be many reasons for this, but in any case, a person needs help. And one of the oldest and most effective methods is the use of potassium permanganate. But today many doubt whether it is possible to drink potassium permanganate. Today we will look at ways to use it and dosage.
general description
It is enough to ask the older generation whether you can drink potassium permanganate, and you will receive a positive answer. After all, they have repeatedly seen in practice that this inexpensive tool can help out in many situations. Potassium permanganate is a dry solid that is rich in color and dissolves in water. In this case, the crystals make it possible to obtain a pink solution.
If you make it very concentrated, the liquid turns out almost purple. When applied to the skin it turns it brown. But the solution is used not only externally. Today we are talking about whether it is possible to drink potassium permanganate precisely because the solution in this form is used for poisoning.
Useful properties for poisoning
If you have eaten a low-quality product, there is a high probability of developing unpleasant symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Is it possible to drink potassium permanganate in this case? Let's take a look together. In fact, its use is quite justified. This is an excellent antiseptic, which, upon contact with organic matter, reacts with the release of oxygen.
Thanks to this property, this remedy is well suited for gastric lavage. Therefore, you can perform this procedure after food poisoning. As a result, the death of pathogenic microorganisms will occur, which is what was required.
Additional Tips
Potassium permanganate powder dissolves better in hot water (70°C). In case of poisoning, it is necessary to use the manganese solution only to induce vomiting. The solution should be pale pink.
Drinking liquid with the drug frequently is prohibited for health purposes; it can be used once to neutralize toxins in the body.
It must be remembered that manganese crystals can cause severe burns, so the powder should be dissolved very carefully, observing all safety precautions.
A solution of potassium permanganate is a home first aid, and this is how it is often treated. Potassium permanganate, or potassium permanganate in common parlance, is one of the most popular antiseptics. Despite the huge selection of modern drugs, a solution of potassium permanganate is still used today for certain types of poisoning, inflammatory diseases, burns, and pustular lesions on the skin. The antiseptic and antimicrobial effect of potassium permanganate is due to the fact that when interacting with organic substances, an oxidation reaction occurs with the release of oxygen.
In clinical practice, a solution of potassium permanganate is used for washing and disinfecting wounds, douching, and rinsing. However, this common remedy is not as harmless as it might seem at first glance. When preparing a solution of potassium permanganate, you need to be very careful and careful. Being a fairly strong oxidizing agent, potassium permanganate in high concentrations can cause burns or swelling of the mucous membranes of the mouth, pharynx and esophagus. Therefore, it is important to strictly observe the recommended concentration and be sure to filter the ready-made solution so that it does not contain undissolved crystals.
Russian doctors began using a solution of potassium permanganate to treat wounds and postoperative sutures since the Great Patriotic War. It must be said that even today it is considered quite effective and efficient. As an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent, a solution of potassium permanganate is especially convenient when it comes to children. Judge for yourself, most often minor injuries are lubricated with iodine or brilliant green. Both of these products contain alcohol, which means they cause a burning sensation when applied. The peroxide fizzes and bubbles, and this frightens some kids. In addition, potassium permanganate is more practical. To treat wounds, abrasions or burns, you only need a couple of crystals, which means one bottle will last you a long time. Agree, this is important if you are relaxing, for example, in the country.
A strong, 5% solution of potassium permanganate, the color of red wine, is used to treat the edges of the wound and cauterize pustules on the skin. By the way, if you treat insect bites with this solution, the itching will not be so severe.
A weaker solution of 0.25%, deep pink in color, is used to wash wounds, cuts and abrasions. A light pink solution of 0.01% is used for gargling and gastric lavage in case of poisoning. A solution in this concentration is used in the treatment of stomatitis and gingivitis, as well as conjunctivitis, as an adjuvant.
Store the prepared solution of potassium permanganate in the refrigerator for no more than a day. A pharmaceutical preparation based on distilled water can last up to 10 days. This disinfectant is suitable for treating wounds on pets.
Not so long ago, even emergency doctors used a solution of potassium permanganate for poisoning. But for some time now it is not recommended to do this. Of course, potassium permanganate is not poison, and there is no great risk of swallowing undissolved crystals. However, potassium permanganate itself does not have any antidote properties. It does not neutralize harmful substances in any way, so it can hardly be called an effective remedy for poisoning. Potassium permanganate is used to lavage the stomach, but you can just as easily drink a large amount of salted water and induce vomiting. By the way, in Europe, saline solution was always used for gastric lavage in case of poisoning. One of the few cases when you cannot do without a solution of potassium permanganate is poisoning with codeine-containing drugs and morphine. It is also useful to remember that in case of analgin overdose, a weak solution of citric acid will help, and sulfonamides will be neutralized by soda.
Let us remind you that if vinegar essence, turpentine, acids or ammonia are ingested, gastric lavage is strictly prohibited. To reduce the impact on the mucous membranes, give the victim to drink beaten eggs with sunflower or other vegetable oil or a large amount of milk with the yolk mixed in it.
Please note that a solution of potassium permanganate leaves indelible brown spots on tissues and skin. To remove them, for example, from your hands, you will need a solution of ammonium sulphide (a teaspoon in a quarter glass of water). Stains on linen and clothes are removed with a mixture of peroxide and lemon juice, table vinegar or regular “White”.
For any food poisoning, the first thing to do is gastric lavage. This procedure allows you to eliminate a toxic product from the body. However, not everyone knows how to rinse the stomach at home.
Beneficial features
It is thanks to them that it becomes possible to conclude whether it is possible to drink potassium permanganate. To date, the following points have been reliably established:
- Potassium permanganate oxidizes many organic compounds that are formed in the stomach under the influence of intoxication.
- Potassium permanganate destroys pathogenic bacteria.
- Toxic substances and microbes cannot withstand contact with potassium permanganate.
- This is an excellent option for preventing the development of purulent infection.
Contraindications for use
There are categories of people for whom the use of potassium permanganate is undesirable or contraindicated:
- for women during pregnancy and nursing mothers - potassium permanganate enters the body and is passed on to the child through the umbilical cord or with milk;
- Small children. Sensitive mucous membranes are not ready to get acquainted with potassium permanganate. Contact with the solution is fraught with burns and injuries, excluding superficial treatment of pustules;
- people with skin hypersensitivity, allergies, rhinitis and allergic bronchitis. For obvious reasons, potent medication is harmful to them;
- adults, unconscious, intoxicated, infants. Failure to control swallowing will result in the solution entering the respiratory tract. Gastric lavage is performed using a tube.
In the following situations, a solution of potassium permanganate for gastric lavage is unacceptable:
- bleeding in parts of the gastrointestinal tract. The admixture of blood in the vomit indicates damage to the internal tissues. You should forget about gastric lavage and taking medications. It is prohibited to consume alcoholic or acidic drinks. The patient needs urgent delivery to a hospital;
- alkali/acid poisoning. It is unacceptable to use home methods to remove substances. You need to call an ambulance; the medical team has the necessary equipment to cleanse the stomach through a tube.
Do not try to use gastric lavage with potassium permanganate as a way to lose weight. The microflora is washed away along with the toxins; restoration will take a lot of time. Occasional vomiting will damage the throat tissues as stomach acid passes through them.
How is it used for poisoning?
Many years of practice show that there is no need to doubt whether you can drink a solution of potassium permanganate. Very often it can be the first aid in case of severe poisoning. It is recommended to use a weak solution in the following cases:
- If symptoms of food poisoning are obvious. Of course, this must be determined by a doctor.
- If there is a place for withdrawal syndrome, that is, intoxication with alcoholic products develops.
First of all, the specialist must determine what exactly caused the intoxication. Only after this can he say whether it is possible to drink potassium permanganate. In case of poisoning, the sooner you do this, the less toxins will enter the blood. The concentration of the solution is not more than 1%. The product is also used to eliminate dangerous consequences for humans in the process of reacting with unknown elements.
Precautionary measures
Since the powder is considered an active and strong substance, it is recommended to know safety precautions before using a crystal-based solution.
When preparing a solution, the following rules must be taken into account:
- The solution must be prepared in a transparent glass container so that the dilution process can be seen.
- Filtration of the liquid is required before external and internal use.
- If a strong solution gets inside the stomach, methemoglobinemia and burns may occur.
With methemoglobinemia, a person’s body begins to lack oxygen. It becomes insufficient for the normal functioning of organs and tissues.
The kidneys take the first blow of the pathology, after which other organs suffer.
If a strong solution accidentally enters the body, you will need to urgently call an ambulance for medical assistance.
In this case, treatment can be carried out with an antidote, namely methylene blue solution. It is used only for internal administration in a precise dose. Providing such assistance at home is almost impossible.
In addition, in case of an overdose of potassium permanganate, the antidote will need to be administered in large quantities, which also adds danger, since not every hospital or clinic has a large amount of such a drug.
It is recommended to simply prepare weak liquids for rinsing; they will be effective in any case, but will not harm your health.
It is worth noting some rules for storing healthy powder. In order for the properties and effect to be preserved, and for the crystals not to become poisonous, you will need to follow these rules:
- The storage container must be tightly closed.
- The product should be kept as far away from sunlight as possible.
- The humidity in the storage area should not be high.
It is forbidden to shake containers with crystals, as in some cases the container may explode. It is potassium permanganate that is used for fireworks.
In what cases can potassium permanganate not be used?
Infectious disease doctors answer positively the question of whether it is possible to drink potassium permanganate when vomiting. But you need to take into account the correct dosage. A weak solution is used for oral administration in case of poisoning.
Potassium permanganate has a number of contraindications for use by people with a tendency to allergic reactions. Often young parents call the emergency room and ask if their children can drink water with potassium permanganate if they are vomiting and suspect poisoning. This is not recommended. You shouldn’t even add pink crystals to the bathing water to prevent your child from getting burns. Only when the rash is drying out can it be reasonable to use potassium permanganate.
Is manganese solution dangerous?
As paradoxical as this may sound, people are concerned about the question: will the manganese solution itself not cause poisoning? The answer is: yes, it is quite possible that the patient will become poisoned from manganese if the rinse solution is too saturated. What symptoms should you be wary of:
- uncontrollable vomiting and subsequent dehydration occur;
- some time after washing, diarrhea may begin;
- the tongue and oral mucosa are painted lilac;
- Swelling of the larynx, convulsions, impaired respiratory function, and redness of the skin may also be observed.
If there is a burning sensation inside, you may suspect a burn to the gastric mucosa. If manganese is bred correctly, such problems simply cannot happen. But if they arise, then it is not enough just to drink clean water, hoping for an improvement in the condition. In case of manganese poisoning, you should call an ambulance for emergency medical care.
Basic Rules
In case of poisoning, the most important thing is not to waste time so that toxins do not circulate throughout the body, aggravating the intoxication. Is it possible to drink a weak solution of potassium permanganate? Yes, but only so that its concentration does not exceed 0.1%. This is quite easy to do. You don't even have to do any additional weighing to do this. You just need to add 2 crystals of powder per liter of boiled water. The solution should be pale pink. A more saturated solution can lead to damage to the mucous membranes of the digestive organs. It is recommended to strain it first. This will prevent the possibility of undissolved crystals getting on the mucous membranes.
What can replace the product (analogs)
Unfortunately, potassium permanganate is not present in every home. There are other options for medicinal liquid agents used for poisoning. In children, treatment is carried out using similar solutions.
- The washing procedure can be carried out with clean boiled water at room temperature. For treatment you will need up to five liters of water.
- Soda solution will help with various types of poisoning. To prepare, dilute a tablespoon of soda powder in a liter of water.
- For rinsing, it is allowed to use saline solution at a concentration of 0.9%.
- It is allowed to use liquid mixtures with sorbents - activated carbon, polysorb, enterosgel.
- A saline solution will help to cope perfectly with toxins in the stomach - take two large spoons of salt for five liters of water. (lethal dose of salt)
The choice of remedy is up to the person, but it is always necessary to take into account the condition of the victim and the product that caused the intoxication.
How to rinse the stomach?
Not everyone is familiar with this technique, so let’s pay some attention to the procedure. If signs of poisoning become noticeable, then:
- Prepare a three-liter jar of solution. You need to try to drink as much as possible. Of course, it’s difficult to do this in one go. But you need to try to drink a liter.
- Now you need to try to induce vomiting.
- You can repeat the procedure.
Of course, getting your child to drink that much fluid can be difficult. But if you are in nature and there are no other drugs at hand, you will have to go this route to prevent the condition from worsening. You can limit yourself to a smaller amount of liquid, and immediately after that induce vomiting. By repeating the procedure a couple of times you will significantly alleviate the condition.
What to pay attention to
Washing the digestive organ is not a pleasant procedure. To ease the situation, the patient is seated so that he can bend over the pelvis. You can do this procedure while standing. If the victim is unable to sit, he can simply be lifted. Here's what else you should do:
- prepare a basin or any other container for collecting vomit;
- give the victim a towel so that he can wipe his mouth;
- after each attack of vomiting, give a little clean water to rinse your mouth, the water should also be warm;
- as soon as there are no food impurities left in the vomit, let the patient rinse his mouth, and then drink clean water with adsorbents (one tablet of activated carbon per kilogram of the patient’s weight).
It is also very important not to overdo the amount of solution you drink so that your stomach does not suffer. If an adult is sometimes able to drink 4-5 glasses at once, then it will be more difficult for a teenager or child to do this.
Important! During the washing procedure, you should always ensure that the patient is conscious. Under no circumstances should you leave him alone; it is possible that a momentary loss of consciousness may occur and the person will choke on his own vomit.
Potassium permanganate poisoning
Improper use of the solution can cause severe poisoning of the body. Most often, children and pregnant women are susceptible to such consequences. Therefore, when talking about whether pregnant women can drink potassium permanganate, maximum caution should be exercised. It is best to give preference to safer analogues: Enterosgel, Polisorb, Regidron.
There are many sorbents on sale today. Not all of them are gentle on the stomach and intestines. A gastroenterologist will help you understand all the diversity. “Polysorb” has proven itself best today. It consists of natural silicon and has no chemical additives; it begins to act in the first 4 minutes. Thanks to its mild but serious effect, the drug can help even in the most difficult situations. It is not for nothing that it is used for atopic dermatitis and viral diseases, food and chemical poisoning. Do not forget that if the patient’s condition is serious, then you cannot self-medicate. Let the doctors provide first aid.
The cause of poisoning is usually the use of an overly concentrated solution of potassium permanganate. It is very easy to overdose on crystals, and as a result, the liquid burns the mucous membrane of the larynx. But more serious side effects may also develop:
- Shock.
- Damage to the abdominal organs.
How to understand that there is a negative reaction to potassium permanganate? Usually there is abdominal pain, diarrhea, and the tongue turns purple. Convulsions often develop and shortness of breath appears.
Incorrect use
Recent studies have shown that the positive effect of treatment with diluted potassium permanganate is largely exaggerated. Rinsing with ordinary boiled water has almost the same effect, but is much safer. Improper preparation or use of potassium permanganate can lead to severe poisoning, which manifests itself with the following symptoms:
- A feeling of severe burning and pain in the stomach area may be a consequence of a chemical burn.
- A sharp deterioration in general condition, the appearance of pallor and weakness.
- Changing the color of the tongue to blue or purple.
- Severe and repeated diarrhea that appeared a few minutes after drinking the solution.
- Disturbance of the central nervous system: shortness of breath, irregular breathing rhythm, it is superficial and rapid.
- Convulsions that can lead to loss of consciousness.
Is it possible to drink potassium permanganate if you have diarrhea?
If there is a slight loosening of the stool, then, of course, it is possible. But in severe cases and dehydration, it is better to avoid self-medication. A good solution would be to immediately consult a doctor and go to hospital. This is due to large loss of fluid. But with a common intestinal disorder or when eating not the freshest foods, you can heal even at home. This is what potassium permanganate is used for.
To do this, you need to throw 3-4 manganese crystals into a small cup and fill it with water. Wait 20 minutes for them to completely dissolve and mix thoroughly. After this, dissolve the concentrate in a liter of boiled water. For children, the solution should only have a slightly pink tint. You need to drink a glass of it twice a day. But most often, just one time is enough for the diarrhea to stop.
Mechanism of action
Potassium permanganate has gained wide popularity for diarrhea due to its antiseptic effect. Let's take a quick look at the mechanism of action. A solution of potassium permanganate reacts with organic matter, and oxygen is released. This has a damaging effect on foreign microorganisms. But that is not all. Thanks to this reaction, an insoluble oxide remains in the intestine, which combines with proteins. This is due to the astringent effect. That is, a kind of barrier film is created that does not allow microorganisms to enter the intestinal wall and back. Thanks to this, the diarrhea stops.
