Potassium permanganate solution, popularly known as potassium permanganate solution, has long been used for many diseases. They save themselves from food and alcohol poisoning, disinfect and cauterize wounds, and use it to 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?
Drug summary
Potassium permanganate is a small crystals of dark purple (almost black) color. They dissolve well in warm water, coloring it, depending on the concentration, in a light pink or bright lilac color. In scientific circles, the substance is referred to as potassium permanganate or potassium s alt of manganese acid.
This is a strong oxidizing agent that can 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 a solution can cause burns on the skin.
Internal use
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 the contact of the liquid with the proteins produced by the human body, active oxygen is released. He is a storm of microbes. Thus, when a potassium permanganate solution enters the digestive organs, the process of transition of hazardous chemicals into a non-hazardous form occurs.
Additionally useful in case of acute poisoning, another feature of potassium permanganate is its specific smell. Thanks to this, it is much faster and easier to induce vomiting in order to cleanse the stomach. After the solution is drunk, do not rush to cleanse the stomach. It's better to let him work for a while.
For gastric lavage, it is necessary to prepare a very weak solution of potassium permanganate, where the ratio of the active substance to water is from 0.01:100 to 0.1:100. In practice, it is difficult to maintain exact proportions, but you can focus on factors such as the number of grains and color. 3-4 crystals of potassium permanganate are usually taken per liter of boiled water. If you are guided by the color of the solution, then after dissolving the powder, the liquid should be pale pink.
External use
Potassium permanganatehas a very wide outdoor application. They treat wounds and burns. In this case, the concentration of the solution should not exceed 0.5%, which outwardly corresponds to the color of red wine. The use of potassium permanganate is effective in diseases of the mouth and throat. Rinsing in these cases should be done with the same solution that is used internally for poisoning.
The same liquid can be used to wash the eyes with conjunctivitis or if small foreign bodies get into them. Gynecological and urological diseases are also sometimes accompanied by douching or washing with a weak concentrate of potassium permanganate. True, for this purpose today there are many more specialized tools.
Ulcers and burns on the surface of the skin are treated with a more concentrated liquid. For the treatment of skin covered with a rash with chicken pox, the strongest 5% solution of potassium permanganate acceptable for human treatment is used. After the end of the rash, to speed up the cleansing of the skin, the patient is shown taking baths with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. With a strong mixture of potassium permanganate, bedsores in patients are wiped daily. With a weak solution, even small cuts or cracks in the skin can be treated to disinfect them and heal as soon as possible.
Potassium permanganate in pediatrics
Many mothers also use potassium permanganate solution to care for their babies. Most often, it is used to disinfect water for a baby's bath. A stronger concentrate can be used to lubricate the unhealed umbilical cord of a child. As it heals, apply 5, 4 and 3%potassium permanganate solution. Until the umbilical wound heals, it is necessary to add potassium permanganate to the water for bathing the baby. But this should be done with extreme caution.
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 getting the baby burns of 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 has slipped, pour the solution into the baby bath.
Today there is a lot of debate about whether such a weak concentration of a substance can disinfect water in a 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 inappropriate. Nevertheless, the preparation of baths with potassium permanganate for newborns is still actively practiced. Similar experiences are passed on to the next generations.
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 crystal of 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 tospontaneous combustion and even explosion. Therefore, it should never be handled in any way, mixed with other substances or stored in the sun.
Where did the potassium permanganate go?
In recent years, many have faced 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 it without a prescription. The loss of this therapeutic agent in pharmacies is associated with the tightening of the conditions for its storage. But the main reason is that since 2007, the authorities of the Russian Federation have declared the well-known potassium permanganate a prohibited drug. But why?
Firstly, the government considered that potassium permanganate could be used in making explosives. They explained this by the fact that potassium s alt has the ability to self-ignite and explode. Because of this, it can be used for terrorist purposes. Experiments have shown that a simple friction of a substance with metal particles is sufficient for an explosion. Secondly, potassium permanganate can be used to make drugs.
Fortunately, there has not been a complete disappearance from the pharmaceutical market of potassium permanganate, the solution of which is considered one of the best antiseptics. It has become more difficult to acquire, but still possible. Many have experienced first hand that this is one of the best remedies for treating all kinds of wounds, treating the throat, mouth, some gynecological and urological problems and disinfecting water for bathing babies. Many consider it their duty to have it in their first aid kit.
