Navigation
[TITLE]

[MESSAGE]

[BUTTONS]

Popular questions...

Content

What causes lactic acidosis?

Lactic acidosis occurs when there is too much lactic acid in the blood, which can be due to a number of causes, such as dehydration, excessive alcohol use, or certain medications, including some used to treat HIV and diabetes.

FAQ Frequently asked questions

What is lactic acidosis?

Lactic acidosis is when lactic acid builds up in your blood, making it too acidic. If left untreated, it can result in an irregular heartbeat, shock, coma and even death.

What are the symptoms of lactic acidosis?

Mild symptoms of lactic acidosis include weakness, nausea and vomiting, while severe symptoms include rapid breathing, a rapid and irregular heartbeat, chest pain and fever.

How is lactic acidosis diagnosed?

Lactic acidosis is diagnosed with a blood test.

How is lactic acidosis treated?

How lactic acidosis is treated depends on the cause, but treatment usually includes oxygen therapy and intravenous fluids to improve the supply of oxygen to tissues and flush out lactic acid from the body, respectively.

What HIV medications can cause lactic acidosis?

Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) such as zidovudine, labovudine and abacavir can increase your risk of lactic acidosis by damaging the energy-producing parts of cells (mitochondria) and blocking their reproduction.

What is the outlook for lactic acidosis?

The outlook for lactic acidosis depends on how severe the lactic acidosis is. In general, outcomes are poor when lactate in the blood is higher than 5 mmol/L and is not cleared in 48 hours.

Can lactic acidosis be prevented?

You can reduce your risk of lactic acidosis by managing your diabetes (if you have it) and by not consuming excessive amounts of alcohol.

Related topics

Diseases & conditions

Tetanus

Tetanus is an infection which usually occurs when a particular bacteria contaminates an open wound. After infection, the tetanus bacteria release a toxin which attaches to nerve cells and causes muscles to spasm. Tetanus is a serious condition and can lead to death if left untreated.…
Diseases & conditions

Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is a common condition sometimes called ‘gastro’ or ‘stomach flu’. The main symptoms are diarrhoea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Most people are at risk of developing it at some point in their lives.…
Diseases & conditions

Bowel obstruction

Bowel obstruction occurs when you have a complete or partial blockage of your bowel, stopping liquids, solids and gas passing through your small or large intestine. This can cause severe abdominal pain, bloating, nausea and vomiting. Bowel obstruction requires prompt medical assessment.…
Diseases & conditions

Traveler's diarrhea

Traveller's diarrhoea is an infection of the gastrointestinal tract that mainly affects travellers, typically due to poor sanitation. It usually causes urgent and frequent diarrhoea. This can be unpleasant and potentially lead to dehydration. It is important to keep hydrated and medications may be needed to help with symptoms.…
Diseases & conditions

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID, is the infection of a woman’s reproductive organs and surrounding pelvic tissues. It occurs most commonly when a sexually-transmitted infection spreads beyond the vagina to internal pelvic organs. This can lead to long-term complications if not recognised and treated early.…
Diseases & conditions

Kidney stones

Stones can form in the kidney and move into other parts of the urinary tract. Large kidney stones can get stuck causing extreme pain, blood in the urine and/or kidney failure. Often, ultrasound waves can be used to break up kidney stones.…

About this article

Author: Dr Idan Ben-Barak PhD, MSc, BSc (Med)
First answered: 19 Sep 2014
Last reviewed: 19 May 2018
Rating: 4.6 out of 5
Votes: 1314 (Click smiley face below to rate)
Category: Tetanus

×

Content goes in here.