What are the signs and symptoms of chemical burns?
The signs and symptoms of a chemical burn depend on several factors, including: • pH of the agent • concentration of the agent • length of contact time • amount of agent involved • physical form of the agent (ie: solid, liquid, gas) • site of contact (e.g. eye, skin, mucous membrane) • whether swallowed or inhaled • whether or not skin is intact The swallowing of solid pellets of alkaline substances highlights the importance of these factors. The solid pellets will sit in the stomach for a longer period, thus more severe burns sustained. Another important factor is concentrated forms of some acids and bases generate a large amount of heat when diluted, this results not only in chemical burns but thermal burns too.
