A solution of potassium permanganate is a home ambulance, that is how they often relate to it.
Potassium permanganate or, in common, potassium permanganate is one of the most popular antiseptic agents. Despite the huge selection of modern drugs, the potassium permanganate solution is still used today for some types of poisoning, inflammatory diseases, burns, pustular skin lesions.
The antiseptic and antimicrobial effect of potassium permanganate is due to the fact that when interacting with organic substances, an oxidation reaction occurs with the release of oxygen.
In clinical practice, a solution of potassium permanganate is used to wash and disinfect wounds, douching, and rinsing. However, this familiar tool is not as harmless as it might seem at first glance. When preparing a solution of potassium permanganate, you need to be very careful and careful. Being a sufficiently strong oxidizing agent, potassium permanganate in high concentration can cause burns or swelling of the mucous membranes of the mouth, pharynx and esophagus.
Therefore, it is important to strictly comply with the recommended concentration and be sure to filter the already prepared solution so that undissolved crystals do not get into it.
Russian doctors began to use a solution of potassium permanganate for the treatment of wounds and postoperative sutures since the time of the Great Patriotic War. I must say that today it is considered quite effective and efficient. As an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory drug, potassium permanganate solution is especially convenient when it comes to children. Judge for yourself, most often minor injuries are lubricated with iodine or brilliant green. Both of these products contain alcohol, which means they cause a burning sensation when applied. Peroxide hisses and bubbles, and this scares some babies. In addition, potassium permanganate is more practical. To treat wounds, abrasions or burns, you only need a couple of crystals, which means that one bubble will last you for a long time. Agree, this is important if you relax, for example, in the country.
A strong, 5% solution of potassium permanganate, having the color of red wine, is used to treat the edges of the wound and cauterize pustules on the skin. By the way, if you treat insect bites with such a solution, the itch will not be so strong.
A weaker solution of 0.25%, saturated pink, is used to wash wounds, cuts and abrasions. A light pink solution of 0.01% is used to rinse the throat, and wash the stomach in case of poisoning. A solution in this concentration is used in the treatment of stomatitis and gengivitis, as well as conjunctivitis, as an adjuvant.
Store the potassium permanganate solution in the refrigerator for no more than 24 hours. A pharmacy preparation based on distilled water can stand for up to 10 days.
This disinfectant is suitable for treating wounds in pets.
Not so long ago, a solution of potassium permanganate in case of poisoning was used even by emergency doctors. But for some time now this is not recommended. Of course, potassium permanganate is not poison, and the risk of swallowing undissolved crystals is not great. However, potassium permanganate itself does not have any antidote properties. It does not neutralize harmful substances in any way, so it can hardly be called an effective remedy for poisoning. Potassium permanganate is used to rinse the stomach, but with the same success you can drink a large amount of salted water and cause vomiting. By the way, in Europe, saline was always used for gastric lavage in case of poisoning. One of the few cases when you cannot do without a potassium permanganate solution is poisoning with codeine-containing drugs and morphine. It will not be superfluous to remember that with an overdose of analginum a weak solution of citric acid will help, and sulfonamides will neutralize soda.
Recall that when ingested vinegar essence, turpentine, acids or ammonia , gastric lavage is strictly prohibited. To reduce the effect on the mucous membrane, give the victim drink beaten eggs with sunflower or other vegetable oil or a large amount of milk with yolk mixed in it.
Note that a solution of potassium permanganate leaves indelible brown spots on the tissues and skin. To remove them, for example, from the hands, you will need a solution of ammonium sulfide (a teaspoon in a quarter cup of water). Stains on linen and clothes are removed with a mixture of peroxide and lemon juice, table vinegar or the usual "White".