What is it?
The symptoms of this chapter is mainly focusing on non-medication overdose, one can click on medication overdoses in this section if one needs to
Poisoning is when one has too much of substance that then becomes harmful to ones body.
For example:
- Carbon dioxide/Nitrous oxides/chemicals/poisons (food, venom/stings) from vehicles and/or factories and/or animals respectively can build up in one’s bloodstream instead of oxygen thus causing severe breathing problems (respiratory failure) and this can lead to damage to one’s body organs.
- Snake venom can also interfere with:
- The blood clotting process, cause massive internal bleeding leading as well as low blood pressure leading to shock and thus affecting your heart and breathing.
- It can lead to severe pain causing tissue death.
- Some bites can affect your nervous system causing paralysis, Kidney failure as well as neurological symptoms.
Cause
Illicit drugs
Overdose of medication:
Table. Differentiation of Serotonin Syndrome From Similarly Presenting Conditions
| Clinical Feature |
Serotonin Syndrome |
Anticholinergic Toxidrome |
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome |
Malignant Hyperthermia |
| Medication history |
Serotoninergic drug |
Anticholinergic agent |
Dopamine agonist |
Inhalational anesthetic |
| Average onset time |
< 12 h |
< 12 h |
1-3 d |
0.5-24 h |
| Vital signs |
Hypertension, tachycardia, tachypnea, fever (>105.8 °F [41 °C]) |
Hypertension, tachypnea, tachycardia, fever (<102.2 °F [39 °C]) |
Hypertension, tachycardia, tachypnea, fever (>105.8 °F [41 °C]) |
Hypertension, tachycardia, tachypnea, hyperthermia |
| Pupils |
Mydriasis |
Mydriasis |
Normal |
Normal |
| Bowel sounds |
Hyperactive |
Decreased or absent |
Normal or decreased |
Decreased |
| Tone |
Increased in lower extremities |
Normal |
“Lead-pipe” rigidity in all muscle groups |
Rigor mortis–like rigidity |
| Reflexes |
Hyperreflexia clonus |
Normal |
Bradyreflexia |
Hyporeflexia |
| Mental status |
Agitation, coma |
Agitation, delirium |
Stupor, alert, mutism, coma |
Agitation |
| Adapted from Boyer EW, Shannon M. N Engl J Med. 2005;352:1112-1120. |
- Exposed to and/or used:
-
-
- Household cleaning products
- Chemicals/Chemical weapons
- Plant food
- Weed killers
- Slug pellets
- Paints
- Solvents
- Firelighters
- Toiletries
- Hair dyes
- Nail polish remover
- Rare metals:
- Beryllium, Cadmium, Chromium, Cobalt, Gold, Lead, Mercury, Manganese, Phosphorus, Silica, Thallium and others.
Symptoms
(symptoms can vary)
- Abdominal pain?
- Nausea and vomiting?
- Chest pain?
- Abnormal heart rhythm and/or rapid heart rate and/or decrease heart rate?
- Blurred vision?
- Short of breath and/or breathing difficulties and/or decreased rate of breathing?
- Burns or pain inside nose and/or mouth?
- Diarrhoea?
- Bleeding of any orifice?
- Fever?
- Headache?
- Confusion?
- Dizziness?
- Drowsiness?
- Loss of consciousness?
- Convulsions?
- Hallucinations?
- Hair loss (Thallium)?
- Wide spread rash (carbon monoxide poisoning)?
- Change of skin colour/spot patches (dioxin, poisoning, arsenic poisoning)?
- A spider bite, scorpion sting or other toxic infections can cause priapism?
Nail changes:
Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:
- Do not try to suck the venom in anyway as it can spread/harm you or other person doing this procedure.
- Do not try to wash out the wound or make an incision of the wound as it will make it more difficult to identify the poison and/or bitten animal.
Medical Emergency Condition (urgent treatment required to identify and the source and then treat)
And/or do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:
- Sepsis
- Angioedema (swelling of any sort)
- Delirium:
- Problem with attention (This could mean the person is inattentive and does not focus or that he or she can focus on tasks but at the expense of all else — failure to shift attention.)
- Disorganised thinking (such as not being able to remember things or being confused)
- Altered level of consciousness (hyper-alertness and on edge, or sluggish, drowsy or withdrawn)
- Change is sudden and/or does it fluctuate over hours or days
- Bleeding from any orifice
- Compartment syndrome
- Rhabdomyolysis (Crush syndrome)
- Pins and needles and/or numbness and/or paralysis to any part of the body
- Necrotising Fasciitis (skin turning black)
- Severe nausea and/or vomiting and/or diarrhoea especially with other symptoms
- Anaphylactic shock (severe allergic reaction)
- Low blood pressure
- Shock:
- Rapid heart rate (rapid pulse)
- Rapid breathing
- Dilated pupils
- Pale, cool skin
- Sweating (diaphoresis)
- Yawning
- If shock occurs (whilst awaiting for an ambulance):
- Lay the person down (if their injuries allow it) and raise and support their legs
- Use a coat or blanket to keep them warm, but do not cover their face or the burnt area
- Do not give them anything to eat or drink
-
How to Treat Shock
This condition can lead to long term symptoms:
Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice
Detailed Information
Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Poisoning (Including carbon monoxide, cyanide and arsenic, Severe bites and stings) in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).
- Medical News Today
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- Medscape (Professional level)
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- Healthline
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- EveryDay Health
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- Pharmaceutical Journal (Professional level)
The Pharmaceutical Journal covers analysis, features, opinion, learning and careers articles, providing insight and knowledge about drugs, pharmacy practice, medicines use and healthcare policy in the context of the pharmacy profession and pharmaceutical science.
- NHS
Find information and advice on health conditions, symptoms, healthy living, medicines and how to get help (British National Health Service).
- WebMD
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- Cleveland Clinic
Pushing the Standards of care.
- Mayo Clinic
No.1 Hospital in the Nation (America)
- Drugs.com
Know more. Be sure.
- National Organisation of Rare Diseases
NORD is dedicated to supporting education, elevating care, advancing research, and driving policy for rare diseases.
- Verywell Health
Know more. Fell better.
- Nathnac
Travel health guidance for health professionals advising travellers and for travellers going overseas from the UK.
- DR Axe
Health and fitness news. Recipes, Natural Remedies
- Better health - NHS
Healthy changes start with little changes. Whether you want to lose weight, drink less alcohol, get active or quit smoking, you have access to lots of free tools and support through Better Health. You can also find simple ways to lift your mood with Every Mind Matters.
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