What are the hazards of taking the desiccant by mistake? How to deal with it?

　　①Ingesting quicklime desiccant by mistake is the most harmful

　　When quicklime comes into contact with water, a large amount of heat is released, and calcium hydroxide with strong alkalinity is formed, which is called slaked lime. Hydrated lime can corrode the digestive tract, causing damage to the mouth and esophagus or stomach ulcers.

　　 If people accidentally swallow the desiccant of quicklime, they can quickly deal with it according to the following methods:

　　 1. Go to the emergency department of the hospital for treatment immediately.

　　 2. Do not drink water and do not induce vomiting to avoid secondary injury caused by vomiting.

　　3. Foreign literature does recommend drinking 1 to 2 cups (or 15 ml per kilogram of body weight) of water or milk dilution therapy, but the effect is weak and there is a risk of aspiration caused by vomiting. Therefore, it is recommended to use this method with caution.

　　 4. Save the desiccant packaging bag and provide it to the doctor in time.

　　 5. After the patient goes to the doctor, the doctors' treatment methods are mainly symptomatic treatment. Generally include: ECG monitoring, fasting water (if necessary parenteral nutrition support), oral care, weak acid neutralization treatment, etc.

　　②Inadvertently taking calcium chloride desiccant

　　 Calcium chloride, like quicklime, is a white substance. Calcium chloride will also emit heat when it comes into contact with water. This heat has a certain irritation to the gastric mucosa.

　　 Unlike quicklime, calcium chloride does not produce strong alkaline substances after contact with water, so it is not corrosive.

　　 Calcium chloride may also cause hypercalcemia. Patients may suffer from lack of energy, lethargy, headache, abnormal dry mouth, metallic taste in the mouth, poor appetite, abnormal electrocardiogram, etc.

　　 If people accidentally take a desiccant containing calcium chloride:

　　For ordinary people, the treatment method is the same as the desiccant of quicklime ingredient by mistake;

　　 But for doctors, if the patient has hypercalcemia, it is necessary to carry out targeted symptomatic treatment, such as volume expansion, diuresis, anti-bone resorption and dialysis.

　　③Mistakenly taking tea bag desiccant

　　 The several desiccants mentioned above are mostly found in food packaging, while tea bag desiccants are different. They are mostly found in tea cups, milk bottles and other items. It is precisely because of this that people tend to ignore its existence.

　 　 Although the ingredients of the tea bag desiccant are mostly described as tea powder, it cannot be ruled out that it may be mixed with other types of desiccant ingredients.

　　 Therefore, if you accidentally swallow the tea bag desiccant, you should go to the emergency department of the hospital for symptomatic supportive treatment immediately because the ingredients are unclear, and provide the residual “causing” desiccant for the doctor to make further judgments. If necessary, contact the manufacturer actively to confirm the specific composition of the tea bag desiccant.

　　④Ingestion of silica gel desiccant by mistake

　　 Different from quicklime and calcium chloride desiccant, silica gel desiccant is easier to identify.

　　 The silica gel desiccant has a granular appearance and is a transparent small ball. The packaging bag will have the words "Silicagel" or "silica gel".

　　 Silica gel is a neutral chemical substance, it will not chemically react with water, nor will it be absorbed by the body, and will eventually be excreted with stool.

　　 So, if people accidentally swallow silica gel desiccant, don't panic, because it generally does not affect the human body, just need to observe closely. Even if there are symptoms such as mouth and throat discomfort, it can be cured by itself.