Question:medium
Gastric lavage is NOT contraindicated after ingestion of which acid?
Gastric lavage is NOT contraindicated after ingestion of which acid?
Show Hint
One corrosive is the famous exception where lavage is still allowed - phenol.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
- HCl
- H2SO4
- Carbolic acid
- Nitric acid
Show Solution
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: The danger of lavage in corrosive ingestion is mechanical - a stiff tube against burnt mucosa risks perforation.
Step 2: Mineral acids such as $HCl$, $H_2SO_4$ and $HNO_3$ produce exactly this kind of deep corrosive burn, so washing out the stomach is barred for them.
Step 3: Phenol (carbolic acid) is the classic exception taught in toxicology: despite being corrosive, gastric lavage can and should be carried out.
Step 4: So the one acid that does not contraindicate lavage is carbolic acid.
\[\boxed{\text{Carbolic acid}}\]
Step 2: Mineral acids such as $HCl$, $H_2SO_4$ and $HNO_3$ produce exactly this kind of deep corrosive burn, so washing out the stomach is barred for them.
Step 3: Phenol (carbolic acid) is the classic exception taught in toxicology: despite being corrosive, gastric lavage can and should be carried out.
Step 4: So the one acid that does not contraindicate lavage is carbolic acid.
\[\boxed{\text{Carbolic acid}}\]
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