The Side Effects of Borax Ingestion
Borax, sodium borate, or boric acid, is a chemical compound of boron that is used around the house as a cleaning product and as an insecticide or pesticide; some even use it as a laundry brightener. If ingested, borax can cause side effects also known as symptoms of poisoning.
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Symptoms
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Some of the most common symptoms of borax poisoning or side effects of ingesting borax include abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, headache, convulsions, vomiting and weakness. Other symptoms may also include blisters, fever, low blood pressure and twitching of the facial muscles, arms, hands, legs and feet. If you have ingested borax, seek immediate medical attention.
Acute or Chronic Exposure
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In order to get the most effective treatment, it is important to determine the difference between whether the exposure to borax was acute or chronic. If the borax has been ingested over a longer period of time in smaller amounts (chronic exposure), the level of toxicity is more likely to be higher than that of a one-time ingestion (acute exposure); therefore, a medical provider may suggest a different route to take in order to decontaminate the body.
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What to Expect
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Once you have arrived at the emergency room, your vitals will be taken; the health care provider will record your temperature, blood pressure, breathing rate, and pulse. Treatment is dependent upon the individual’s symptoms, but in general the patient may receive dialysis, IV fluids, or a gastric lavage; this is where a tube is placed in the mouth and through the stomach to wash out the stomach. Activated charcoal is used for overdosing, but it is important to know that activated charcoal does not absorb borax.
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