Ammonia toxicity - Revision history

Rossdonaldson1: /* Background */

2026-04-15T20:40:56Z

Background

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:40, 15 April 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	==Background==		==Background==
	[[1920px-Ammonia smoke.jpg\|thumb\|A test tube filled with ammonium chloride smoke made by reacting ammonia with hydrochloric acid.]]		[[File:1920px-Ammonia smoke.jpg\|thumb\|A test tube filled with ammonium chloride smoke made by reacting ammonia with hydrochloric acid.]]
	*Liquid form common in cleaning products		*Liquid form common in cleaning products
	*Ammonia gas used as chemical weapon		*Ammonia gas used as chemical weapon

Rossdonaldson1: /* Background */

2026-04-15T20:40:32Z

Background

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:40, 15 April 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	==Background==		==Background==
			[[1920px-Ammonia smoke.jpg\|thumb\|A test tube filled with ammonium chloride smoke made by reacting ammonia with hydrochloric acid.]]
	*Liquid form common in cleaning products		*Liquid form common in cleaning products
	*Ammonia gas used as chemical weapon		*Ammonia gas used as chemical weapon
	*Injury due to inhalation, skin/eye contact, and/or ingestion		*Injury due to inhalation, skin/eye contact, and/or ingestion
	*Extent of injury contingent upon concentration and duration of exposure		*Extent of injury contingent upon concentration and duration of exposure
	**Even fairly low airborne concentrations (50 ppm) of ammonia produce rapid onset of eye, nose, and throat irritation; coughing; and narrowing of the bronchi.		**Even fairly low airborne concentrations (50 ppm) of ammonia produce rapid onset of eye, nose, and throat irritation; coughing; and narrowing of the bronchi.

	==Clinical Features==		==Clinical Features==

ClaireLewis at 17:11, 18 August 2019

2019-08-18T17:11:59Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:11, 18 August 2019
Line 1:		Line 1:
	==Background==		==Background==
	~~===Routes of Exposure===~~		*Liquid form common in cleaning products
	*~~Inhalation of ammonia may cause nasopharyngeal and tracheal burns~~, ~~bronchiolar and alveolar edema~~, and ~~airway destruction resulting in respiratory distress~~ or ~~failure.~~		*Ammonia gas used as chemical weapon
	*~~Skin/Eye Contact - the extent~~ of injury ~~produced by exposure to ammonia depends on the~~ duration of ~~the~~ exposure ~~and the concentration of the gas or liquid. Contact with concentrated ammonia solutions, such as some industrial cleaners~~ (~~25%~~)~~, may cause serious corrosive injury, including skin burns, permanent eye damage, or blindness. The full extent~~ of ~~damage to the eyes may not be clear until up to 1 week after the injury is sustained. Contact with liquefied~~ ammonia ~~can cause frostbite injury.~~		*Injury due to inhalation, skin/eye contact, and/or ingestion
	*Ingestion - ingestion of ~~ammonium hydroxide~~, ~~while uncommon, results in corrosive damage to the mouth~~, throat, and ~~stomach. Ingestion~~ of ~~ammonia does not normally result in systemic poisoning~~.		*Extent of injury contingent upon concentration and duration of exposure
			**Even fairly low airborne concentrations (50 ppm) of ammonia produce rapid onset of eye, nose, and throat irritation; coughing; and narrowing of the bronchi.

	==Clinical Features==		==Clinical Features==
	*~~Respiratory~~
	**~~The extent of injury produced by exposure to ammonia depends on the duration of the exposure, the concentration of the gas~~, and ~~the depth of inhalation~~		===Routes of Exposure===
	**~~Even fairly low airborne concentrations~~ (~~50 ppm~~) ~~of ammonia produce rapid onset of eye, nose~~, ~~and throat irritation; coughing; and narrowing of the bronchi.~~		*Inhalation
	**More severe clinical signs include immediate narrowing of the throat and swelling, causing upper airway obstruction and accumulation of fluid in the lungs. This may result in low blood oxygen levels and an altered mental status. Mucosal burns to the tracheobronchial tree can also occur. Immediate onset of laryngospasm with respiratory arrest can occur.		**Nasopharyngeal and tracheal [[chemical burns]], upper airway obstruction
	*~~Dermal~~		**Bronchiolar/alveolar edema and narrowing
	Dilute ~~aqueous solutions~~ (~~less than 5%~~) rarely ~~cause serious burns~~ but ~~can~~ be ~~moderately~~ irritating. ~~Exposure to concentrated vapor or solution can cause pain~~, ~~inflammation~~, ~~blisters~~, necrosis ~~and deep penetrating burns~~, ~~especially~~ on moist skin areas.		**Laryngospasm (can occur immediately upon exposure)
	**~~Skin contact~~ with compressed, liquid ammonia (~~which is~~ stored at -28 °F) ~~causes~~ frostbite injury, and ~~may also result in severe~~ burns ~~with deep ulcerations.~~		**[[Respiratory distress]]/failure, [[hypoxia]]
	*~~Ocular~~		**[[Cough]]
	**~~Ammonia has a greater~~ tendency to penetrate ~~and~~ damage ~~the eyes~~ than ~~does any~~ other alkali~~. Even low concentrations of ammonia vapor (100 ppm) produce rapid onset of eye irritation.~~		*Skin contact
	**~~Contact~~ with high concentrations of the gas or with concentrated ammonium hydroxide ~~may cause~~ swelling ~~and~~ sloughing of ~~the~~ surface cells of ~~the eye, which~~ may ~~result in temporary or permanent blindness.~~		**Dilute (e.g. household cleaners) rarely burn but may be irritating
	*~~Gastrointestinal~~		**Corrosive injury if contact with concentrated (e.g. industrial cleaners >25%)
	**~~Nausea~~, ~~vomiting~~, ~~and abdominal pain are common symptoms following ingestion of ammonia. Ingestion of household ammonia (5~~-~~10%) has resulted in severe esophageal burns. Esophageal pain with swallowing~~, ~~drooling and refusal of food suggest a more significant injury. Substernal~~ chest pain, abdominal pain ~~and rigidity suggest profound injury and potential perforation of the esophagus and/ or stomach.~~		***Skin [[chemical burns]], blistering, pain, necrosis, particularly on moist skin areas
			***Contact with compressed liquid ammonia (stored at -28 °F) can cause [[frostbite]] injury and deep ulcerating burns
			*Eye contact
			**Greater tendency to penetrate/damage eye than other alkali
			**Temporary or permanent [[vision loss]] if contact with high concentrations of the gas or with concentrated ammonium hydroxide, due to swelling/sloughing of eye surface cells
			***Extent of damage may not be apparent for up to a week
			*Ingestion
			**[[Caustic ingestion\|Corrosive damage]]/[[chemical burns]] to oropharynx, esophagus, stomach
			*** --> [[Nausea/vomiting]], [[chest pain]], [[abdominal pain]], drooling

	==Differential Diagnosis==		==Differential Diagnosis==
			{{Caustic burn types}}
			{{Chemical weapon DDX}}

	==Evaluation==		==Evaluation==
			*Decontaminate
			*Evaluate for extent of injury, co-intoxicants

	==Management==		==Management==
			*Diuretics and corticosteroids not shown to be effective
			*Inhaled beta agonists e.g. [[albuterol]] for bronchoconstriction
			*See [[caustic ingestion]]
			*See [[caustic burns]]

	==Disposition==		==Disposition==
			*Dependant on clinical severity

	==See Also==		==See Also==

Rossdonaldson1: /* Background */

2019-02-27T04:56:09Z

Background

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:56, 27 February 2019
Line 1:		Line 1:
	==Background==		==Background==
	*Route of ~~exposure:~~		===Routes of Exposure===
	**Inhalation of ammonia may cause nasopharyngeal and tracheal burns, bronchiolar and alveolar edema, and airway destruction resulting in respiratory distress or failure.		*Inhalation of ammonia may cause nasopharyngeal and tracheal burns, bronchiolar and alveolar edema, and airway destruction resulting in respiratory distress or failure.
	**Skin/Eye Contact - the extent of injury produced by exposure to ammonia depends on the duration of the exposure and the concentration of the gas or liquid. Contact with concentrated ammonia solutions, such as some industrial cleaners (25%), may cause serious corrosive injury, including skin burns, permanent eye damage, or blindness. The full extent of damage to the eyes may not be clear until up to 1 week after the injury is sustained. Contact with liquefied ammonia can cause frostbite injury.		*Skin/Eye Contact - the extent of injury produced by exposure to ammonia depends on the duration of the exposure and the concentration of the gas or liquid. Contact with concentrated ammonia solutions, such as some industrial cleaners (25%), may cause serious corrosive injury, including skin burns, permanent eye damage, or blindness. The full extent of damage to the eyes may not be clear until up to 1 week after the injury is sustained. Contact with liquefied ammonia can cause frostbite injury.
	**Ingestion - ingestion of ammonium hydroxide, while uncommon, results in corrosive damage to the mouth, throat, and stomach. Ingestion of ammonia does not normally result in systemic poisoning.		*Ingestion - ingestion of ammonium hydroxide, while uncommon, results in corrosive damage to the mouth, throat, and stomach. Ingestion of ammonia does not normally result in systemic poisoning.

	==Clinical Features==		==Clinical Features==

PoppyCat: /* Clinical Features */

2019-01-21T02:18:49Z

Clinical Features

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:18, 21 January 2019
Line 6:		Line 6:

	==Clinical Features==		==Clinical Features==
			*Respiratory
			**The extent of injury produced by exposure to ammonia depends on the duration of the exposure, the concentration of the gas, and the depth of inhalation
			**Even fairly low airborne concentrations (50 ppm) of ammonia produce rapid onset of eye, nose, and throat irritation; coughing; and narrowing of the bronchi.
			**More severe clinical signs include immediate narrowing of the throat and swelling, causing upper airway obstruction and accumulation of fluid in the lungs. This may result in low blood oxygen levels and an altered mental status. Mucosal burns to the tracheobronchial tree can also occur. Immediate onset of laryngospasm with respiratory arrest can occur.
			*Dermal
			Dilute aqueous solutions (less than 5%) rarely cause serious burns but can be moderately irritating. Exposure to concentrated vapor or solution can cause pain, inflammation, blisters, necrosis and deep penetrating burns, especially on moist skin areas.
			**Skin contact with compressed, liquid ammonia (which is stored at -28 °F) causes frostbite injury, and may also result in severe burns with deep ulcerations.
			*Ocular
			**Ammonia has a greater tendency to penetrate and damage the eyes than does any other alkali. Even low concentrations of ammonia vapor (100 ppm) produce rapid onset of eye irritation.
			**Contact with high concentrations of the gas or with concentrated ammonium hydroxide may cause swelling and sloughing of the surface cells of the eye, which may result in temporary or permanent blindness.
			*Gastrointestinal
			**Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain are common symptoms following ingestion of ammonia. Ingestion of household ammonia (5-10%) has resulted in severe esophageal burns. Esophageal pain with swallowing, drooling and refusal of food suggest a more significant injury. Substernal chest pain, abdominal pain and rigidity suggest profound injury and potential perforation of the esophagus and/ or stomach.

	==Differential Diagnosis==		==Differential Diagnosis==

PoppyCat: /* Background */

2019-01-21T02:15:51Z

Background

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:15, 21 January 2019
Line 1:		Line 1:
	==Background==		==Background==
			*Route of exposure:
			**Inhalation of ammonia may cause nasopharyngeal and tracheal burns, bronchiolar and alveolar edema, and airway destruction resulting in respiratory distress or failure.
			**Skin/Eye Contact - the extent of injury produced by exposure to ammonia depends on the duration of the exposure and the concentration of the gas or liquid. Contact with concentrated ammonia solutions, such as some industrial cleaners (25%), may cause serious corrosive injury, including skin burns, permanent eye damage, or blindness. The full extent of damage to the eyes may not be clear until up to 1 week after the injury is sustained. Contact with liquefied ammonia can cause frostbite injury.
			**Ingestion - ingestion of ammonium hydroxide, while uncommon, results in corrosive damage to the mouth, throat, and stomach. Ingestion of ammonia does not normally result in systemic poisoning.

	==Clinical Features==		==Clinical Features==

Mholtz at 00:46, 9 August 2018

2018-08-09T00:46:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:46, 9 August 2018
Line 25:		Line 25:
	==References==		==References==
	<references/>		<references/>

			[[Category:Toxicology]]

Rossdonaldson1: Created page with "==Background== ==Clinical Features== ==Differential Diagnosis== ==Evaluation== ==Management== ==Disposition== ==See Also== *Pulmonary chemical agents ==Extern..."

2018-06-26T22:26:34Z

Created page with "==Background== ==Clinical Features== ==Differential Diagnosis== ==Evaluation== ==Management== ==Disposition== ==See Also== *Pulmonary chemical agents ==Extern..."

New page

==Background==

==Clinical Features==

==Differential Diagnosis==

==Evaluation==

==Management==

==Disposition==

==See Also==
*[[Pulmonary chemical agents]]

==External Links==

==References==
<references/>