Several conditions can cause high ammonia levels in your blood, including liver disease, kidney failure and certain congenital conditions. What is ammonia? Ammonia, also known as NH3, is a waste product that bacteria in your intestines primarily make when digesting protein.
High ammonia levels are toxic and cause symptoms such as headache, confusion, disorientation, excessive sleepiness, and difficulty concentrating. These symptoms reflect ammonia’s dangerous effect on the brain. Ammonia poisoning can occur when you have an excessive amount of ammonia in your body, as a result of either external exposure or internal buildup. While severe cases can be life threatening,...
ammonia sickness, This article explains the most common ways people risk exposure to high levels of ammonia, the symptoms of exposure, when to contact a doctor, and the treatment options. Exposure to high levels of ammonia may hurt your skin, eyes, throat, and lungs and cause coughing and burns. Lung damage and death may occur after exposure to very high levels of ammonia. Most people will smell the chemical or feel irritation that tells you that you are exposed to ammonia. If you or someone else has been exposed to ammonia and is experiencing symptoms of poisoning, minimize contact with the poison and call emergency services.
ammonia sickness, A person with severe ammonia poisoning may need supportive care in the hospital. Ammonia is a strong, colorless gas. If the gas is dissolved in water, it is called liquid ammonia. Poisoning may occur if you breathe in ammonia. Poisoning may also occur if you swallow or touch products that contain very large amounts of ammonia. WARNING: Never mix ammonia with bleach.
Because ammonia vapor is highly water soluble, onset of symptoms occurs very rapidly after inhalational exposure. Symptoms usually subside within 24-48 hours. Absence of symptoms following...
