Potassium permanganate solution, better known among the people as a solution of potassium permanganate, has long been used in many diseases. They are saved from food and alcohol poisoning, they disinfect and burn wounds, with it they prepare baths for bathing babies. What is the secret of this inexpensive, but such an effective tool? How to prepare and apply the solution to avoid burns?
Brief information about the drug
Potassium permanganate is a small crystal of dark purple (almost black) color. They dissolve well in warm water, staining it, depending on the concentration, in a light pink or bright lilac color. In scientific circles, a substance is spoken of as potassium permanganate or potassium salt of manganese acid.
It is a strong oxidizing agent that is able to effectively disinfect various tissues of the human body. A more concentrated aqueous solution of potassium permanganate acts as an antiseptic. It has a tanning and cauterizing effect. Too concentrated solution can cause burns on the skin.
Internal application
For internal use of potassium permanganate, the solution is indicated only for acute poisoning. Its effectiveness in this case is explained by the fact that during contact of the liquid with the proteins produced by the human body, active oxygen is released. He is a thunderstorm of germs. Thus, when a solution of potassium permanganate enters the digestive organs, the process of transition of hazardous chemicals to a non-hazardous form occurs.
In addition, in the case of acute poisoning, another feature of potassium permanganate is its specific smell. Due to this, it is possible to cause vomiting much faster and easier in order to cleanse the stomach. After the solution is drunk, do not rush to cleanse the stomach. Better to let him show his action for a while.
For gastric lavage, it is necessary to prepare a very weak solution of potassium permanganate, where the ratio of active substance to water is from 0.01: 100 to 0.1: 100. In practice, it is difficult to maintain accurate proportions, but you can focus on factors such as the number of grains and color. 3-4 liters of potassium permanganate are usually taken per liter of boiled water. If you are guided by the color of the solution, then after the powder is dissolved, the liquid should be pale pink.
Outdoor application
Potassium permanganate has a very wide external use. They treat wounds and burns. In this case, the concentration of the solution should not exceed 0.5%, which externally corresponds to the color of red wine. The effective use of potassium permanganate in diseases of the mouth and throat. In these cases, rinse should be done with the same solution that is used internally for poisoning.
With the same liquid, you can wash your eyes with conjunctivitis or small foreign bodies getting into them. Gynecological and urological diseases are also sometimes accompanied by douching or washing with a weak potassium permanganate concentrate. True, today there are many more specialized tools for this purpose.
Ulcers and burns on the surface of the skin are treated using a more concentrated liquid. To treat skin covered with a rash with chickenpox, use the strongest 5% potassium permanganate solution acceptable for treating a person. After the rash is completed, the patient is shown taking baths with a weak solution of potassium permanganate to accelerate skin cleansing. A strong mixture of potassium permanganate is daily wiped with bedsores in patients. With a weak solution, even small cuts or cracks in the skin can be treated to disinfect and heal as soon as possible.
Potassium permanganate in pediatrics
Many mothers also use potassium permanganate solution to care for their babies. Most often, they disinfect the water for the baby's bath. A stronger concentrate can lubricate the unhealed umbilical cord of the child. As it heals, a 5, 4 and 3% potassium permanganate solution is used. Until the umbilical wound is healed, it is necessary to add potassium permanganate to the water for bathing the baby. But this should be done very carefully.
In no case should you immediately pour crystals of potassium permanganate into the bath. So, it will be very difficult to completely dissolve them. And this is fraught with the baby getting burns to the skin or mucous membranes. First you need to make a raspberry-colored concentrate in a glass, then carefully strain it through several layers of gauze. And only after that, making sure that not a single crystal slipped, pour the solution into the baby bath.
Today, there is much debate about whether such a low concentration of a substance can disinfect water in the baby’s bath. Information on such use of the product cannot be found in the instructions for its use. And many experienced pediatricians consider this generally impractical. Nevertheless, the preparation of pots with potassium permanganate for newborns is still actively practiced. Similar experience is passed on to the next generation.
Precautions
Remember that potassium permanganate solution is not completely safe. It is important to remember that contact with the skin or mucous membrane of any organ of an undissolved crystalline potassium permanganate is a 100% burn.
In order to check the absence of grains in the finished solution, it is necessary to pour it into a glass container. It is important to take into account the chemical properties of potassium permanganate crystals during storage. This seemingly harmless powder is prone to spontaneous combustion and even explosion. Therefore, you should never make any manipulations with it, mix with other substances or store in the sun.
Where has potassium permanganate gone?
In recent years, many have come up with the fact that potassium permanganate has become difficult to find in pharmacies. Even if you are lucky to find it, it is impossible to buy without a prescription. The loss of this therapeutic agent in pharmacies involved stricter conditions for its storage. But the main reason is that since 2007, the Russian authorities declared the well-known potassium permanganate a prohibited drug to everyone. But why?
Firstly, the government considered potassium permanganate to be used in the manufacture of explosives. They explained this by the fact that the potassium salt has the ability to self-ignite and explode. Because of this, it can be used for terrorist purposes. As experiments have shown, for the explosion is enough simple friction of a substance with metal particles. Secondly, potassium permanganate can be used to make drugs.
Fortunately, there was no complete disappearance from the pharmaceutical market of potassium permanganate, a solution of which is considered one of the best antiseptic agents. It has become more difficult to acquire, but still possible. Many have seen from their own experience that this is one of the best means for treating all kinds of wounds, treating the throat, mouth, some gynecological and urological problems and disinfecting water for bathing babies. Many consider it to be their duty to have it in their medicine cabinet.