News

Eating Glue Stick: What will Happen?

Short Answer: If you accidentally eat a glue stick, you may experience abdominal problems, such as stomach ache, nausea, and vomiting, and you may need medical attention.

A glue stick is a solid and hard adhesive that comes in a twist or push-up tube.

It is mainly used for gluing paper and card stock together, and it is often used for craft and design, office use, and school projects.

A glue stick is mostly made of polyvinyl acetate (PVA), which is a non-toxic substance, but it may also contain other chemicals such as water, ethanol, acetone, sodium stearate, polyethylene glycol, and N-vinylpyrrolidone.

If you accidentally eat a glue stick, you may experience some abdominal problems, such as stomach ache, nausea, and vomiting.

This is because the glue stick contains ingredients that are not meant to be ingested and can irritate your digestive system.

The severity of the symptoms will depend on the amount of glue stick eaten and whether you swallowed it or not.

The ingredients in the glue stick can also cause other effects if they enter your body.

For example, ethanol and acetone are alcohols that can affect your nervous system and cause drowsiness, dizziness, and headache.

Sodium stearate is a soap that can cause diarrhea and dehydration.

N-vinylpyrrolidone is a monomer that can polymerize as the glue dries and form a solid mass that can block your airway or stomach.

It is quite uncommon to eat a glue stick, as most people know that it is not a food item and that it can be harmful if eaten.

However, some children may be curious about the taste or texture of the glue stick and try to eat it, especially if they see it as a toy or a candy.

Some adults may also eat a glue stick intentionally, as a prank or a challenge, or to harm themselves.

You can prevent or reduce the harm of eating a glue stick by taking some steps.

If you ate a small amount of glue stick and did not swallow it, you should spit out the glue and rinse your mouth with warm water.

If you ate a large amount of glue stick or swallowed some of it, you should seek medical attention immediately, as you may need to have the glue removed from your stomach or throat.

You should also drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration and flush out the toxins.

To avoid accidental eating of a glue stick, you should keep the glue stick away from children and pets, and store it in a safe and dry place.

You should also label the glue stick clearly and not confuse it with any food item.

You should also educate yourself and others about the dangers of eating a glue stick and the symptoms to look out for.

Finally, remember, a glue stick is a useful and convenient product for gluing things together, but it is not a food item and it can be harmful if eaten.

If you eat a glue stick, you may experience abdominal problems and other effects, and you may need medical help.

Eating a glue stick is not a joke or a game, and it can have serious consequences.

Was this article helpful?
YesNo

About the Author

Abdur Rahman Choudhury

Abdur Rahman Choudhury is a nutrition coach with over 7 years of experience in the field of nutrition.

He holds a Bachelor's (B.Sc.) and Master's (M.Sc.) degree in Biochemistry from The University of Burdwan, India. He was also involved with a research project about genetic variations in the CYP11A gene among PCOS and Metabolic Syndrome patients.

He has completed the following online courses: Stanford Introduction to Food and Health by Stanford University (US) through Coursera, Certificate in Nutrition from Fabulous Body Inc. (US), Lose Weight and Keep It Off certificate course from Harvard Medical School (US), and Nutrition and Disease Prevention by Taipei Medical University (Taiwan) through FutureLearn.

Abdur currently lives in India and keeps fit by weight training and eating mainly home-cooked meals.

Leave a Comment

Like this article? Share it with your loved ones!