Acid attacks
Perhaps unbelievably (or not?), the UK has some of the highest worldwide rates (!!!) of acid attacks...
- used to be honour-related, directed at women etc
- UK stats suggest more likely to be gang related, against men and boys
- corrosive substances = "highly dangerous weapons"
history
- What substance? first aid?
- any other trauma associated?
similar management approach to burns
- remove the source
- irrigation while keeping patient warm
- until stable pH
- water, Hartmann's, diphoterine if you can get it = amphoteric
- refer all chemical burns to specialist burns unit
- safeguarding
pathogenesis
- coagulative necrosis - hence damage takes time to show
- alkali:
- lipophilic
- saponification of fatty acids
- proteolytic enzymes from damaged tissue = more damage
sources/links
https://dontforgetthebubbles.com/phirst-aid-management-chemical-attacks-children/
https://litfl.com/the-eye-in-chemical/ (I remember this from CT1...)