The times of Hamlet, Rasputin and Cleopatra have long since sunk into oblivion, and the topic of acute poisoning does not lose its relevance to this day. More than 400 thousand become their victims every year on the planet. What is acute poisoning and why is it so important to know its symptoms?
Every year more and more toxic chemical compounds accumulate in the environment. Simply put, we come across potentially toxic substances every day and risk experiencing all the “delights” of the symptoms of poisoning through our own sad experience.
Tragedy can befall a person by an absurd accident or by accident - doctors call such poisoning unintentional. Unfortunately, there are also deliberate poisonings - they have long been used to settle accounts with one’s own life or get rid of competitors.
What poisonings are most common? What symptoms and signs indicate poisoning? How should first aid be provided? Let's try to figure it out...
A few words about poisons
According to scientists, any substance that enters the body can cause poisoning - after all, much depends not only on the concentration of the poison, but also on its quantity. Substances that are common and necessary for normal functioning of the body can become toxic in excessive quantities.
Under certain circumstances, even ordinary water can become dangerous: if you drink about 7 liters per day, you can get acute poisoning and even die from intoxication. Symptoms of water poisoning are associated with disruption of water and electrolyte metabolism in the body: swelling, cramps, vomiting, interruptions in heart function, diarrhea.
Toxic substances can enter the human body in all possible ways: through the mouth, skin, respiratory organs, by injection into the rectum, vein or ear canal. The severity of poisoning, symptoms and treatment, emergency measures to remove poison from the body depend on the type and amount of the toxic substance, and, of course, on the routes of its penetration.
The first symptoms of poisoning may appear immediately after the poison enters the body or within several hours or even days. First of all, the brain, liver, kidneys, and intestines are affected by toxic substances. These organs “give signals” - symptoms of poisoning that cannot be ignored!
What substances can cause poisoning?
Milady Intoxication has a huge number of reasons and reasons to poison, and in her arsenal there are many exogenous and endogenous poisons.
Exogenous toxic substances enter the body from the outside. That is, through the skin and mucous membranes, the upper respiratory tract, and the digestive tract. The most common cause of intoxication is poisoning with ethanol, methanol, heavy metal salts, household chemicals, carbon monoxide, poor-quality food, contaminated water, and medications.
Microbes, penetrating into the body, cause not only disease, but also poisoning with their toxins. The “reason” for exogenous intoxication of the body can, for example, be poisonous representatives of flora and fauna, the pale grebe and puffer fish.
Endogenous poisons are formed in the human body as a result of metabolism, as a consequence of diseases and various pathological conditions: for example, cancer intoxication (with the development of malignant tumors), uremia (with chronic renal failure), thyrotoxicosis (with increased production of thyroid hormones), tuberculosis intoxication and so on.
If the detoxifying function of the liver is insufficient, a large amount of toxic metabolic products accumulates in the body, leading to endogenous intoxication. With complications of diabetes, the body is poisoned by products of carbohydrate metabolism - ketone bodies.
Alcohol poisoning
Symptoms most often occur in the morning. Many consider them a kind of “retribution” for a stormy evening. This condition is more often called a hangover rather than alcohol poisoning.
Symptoms depend on the concentration of ethyl alcohol in the blood. At the beginning of intoxication, this is euphoria and talkativeness, with an increase in alcohol concentration - impaired speech and coordination of movements. The liver begins the process of recycling alcohol into simpler substances, aldehyde, water, carbon dioxide. It is acetaldehyde that is “to blame” for morning ailments: headache, thirst, nausea, dry mouth, dizziness.
Be careful!
In order for alcohol poisoning to occur, an adult needs on average about 200 ml of 40% ethanol; alcohol poisoning in a child occurs when drinking 30 ml of 40% ethanol (vodka).
Food poisoning. Symptoms
Almost all food products pose potential dangers and health risks. In some products, the level of food additives - the so-called "yes" - is "off the charts", others are contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, and others were simply consumed unwashed. Food poisoning, unfortunately, is not uncommon these days. If the rules for preparing, processing, and storing food are not followed, food poisoning may occur.
Food poisoning in an adult (child) can be:
- microbial, that is, associated with pathogenic bacteria (salmonellosis);
- non-microbial - associated with poisons of animal or plant origin. For example, mushroom poisoning or poisoning with the Japanese delicacy - poisonous fugu fish.
Also, symptoms of food poisoning in adults occur when consuming foods containing pesticides and heavy metal salts.
By the way, poisoning from fish, seafood and caviar is far from rare, since the waters of the world’s oceans are polluted with salts of heavy metals and other man-made “chemicals”.
Food poisoning in an adult can be associated with banal laziness in preparing food at home and the habit of eating at various public catering establishments. Food poisoning in a child is most often associated with his “knowledge of the world”: often children put into their mouths everything that interests them as soon as their parents turn away.
The most common symptoms of food poisoning:
- nausea;
- vomiting of eaten food;
- diarrhea (diarrhea).
Mushroom poisoning also causes convulsions, hallucinations, jaundice, and pain in the right side.
When starting treatment at home, do not forget to rinse your stomach from poor-quality food and take Enterosgel sorbent, or better yet, do not take risks and consult a doctor!
Signs of acute and chronic intoxication of the body
In case of acute intoxication of the body, the patient experiences:
- heat;
- headache;
- muscle and joint pain;
- nausea;
- vomit;
- diarrhea.
When exposed to strong poisons, there is a serious threat to life. In such cases, urgent hospitalization is necessary, since it is not possible to relieve intoxication at home!
Chronic intoxication may be accompanied by:
- weight loss;
- aversion to food;
- insomnia;
- depression;
- indigestion;
- anemia;
- decreased immunity;
- dermatitis;
- prone to allergic reactions and autoimmune diseases.
With a decrease in the body's defenses and a severe purulent infection, intoxication syndrome develops.
This condition may occur against the background of:
- peritonitis;
- pleural empyema;
- osteomyelitis;
- phlegmon;
- abscess;
- sepsis.
Severe intoxication of the body leads to toxic damage to the heart muscle, nervous system, liver and kidneys.
Palpitations, depression of consciousness or euphoria, kidney and liver failure are the main signs of intoxication syndrome.
The diagnosis is made through blood tests and the leukocyte index of intoxication. This important research method makes it possible to assess the severity of endogenous intoxication and the effectiveness of the treatment.
Normally, the values of the leukocyte index of intoxication range from 0.3 to 1.5. An increase in values from 4 to 9 indicates endogenous poisoning.
Poisoning with acids (alkalis)
Intoxication with these chemicals is possible through inhalation of vapors, contact with the skin or in the stomach.
Poisoning by acid vapors is manifested by burns of the mucous membranes, bleeding, dry cough, bloody vomiting, pain in the mouth and chest.
Poisoning by household chemical vapors is accompanied by headache, cough, abdominal pain, nausea, and an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
Redness of the eyes, burning, runny nose, headache, nausea - typical symptoms of poisoning with vapors of varnishes and paints and traditional companions of home repairs!
Chlorine poisoning. Symptoms
Chlorine compounds are used in everyday life to clean surfaces, disinfect pool water and bleach laundry. Since chlorine has become firmly established in our daily lives, it is important to know what symptoms of poisoning with chlorine-containing substances may bother victims.
Dry cough, choking, sore throat, drooling, watery eyes, vomiting - these are the signs of chlorine poisoning.
Depending on the severity of intoxication in the body, chlorine poisoning can be mild, moderate and severe. Poisoning in children of any degree can only be treated in a hospital!
After carrying out the first emergency measures (gastric lavage and taking Enterosgel sorbent), the victim is hospitalized for medical care.
How does intoxication manifest itself?
Signs of intoxication depend on the nature of the toxic substance, its quantity, routes of entry into the body and ability to accumulate.
Toxic substances are divided depending on their effect on:
- carcinogenic (cancer-causing);
- mutagenic (leading to mutations);
- cardiotropic (heart muscle is affected);
- hepatotropic (liver intoxication) and others.
Symptoms of intoxication depend on the severity of poisoning:
- light;
- average;
- heavy.
Intoxication can be acute or chronic.
Acute intoxication occurs when poison enters the body once and is accompanied by pronounced symptoms. For example, food intoxication due to salmonellosis, alcohol intoxication.
Acute intoxication in a child occurs due to influenza, intestinal infection, drug overdose, food poisoning, and acetone syndrome. Competent parents know how to relieve symptoms of intoxication at home - they give the baby a drink and give Enterosgel sorbent (not forgetting to call a doctor).
Chronic intoxication occurs with long-term accumulation of toxic substances in the body, for example, cancer intoxication, lead poisoning, tuberculosis intoxication, drug addiction.
...and did you know that
In Moscow, every twentieth patient delivered by ambulance to city hospitals is diagnosed with acute poisoning.
In the structure of the causes of acute poisoning:
- 80% of cases are due to erroneous intake of a chemical substance;
- 18% of cases - an attempt to commit suicide (suicide);
- 2% of cases are intoxication at work.
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Unfortunately, none of us is immune from carbon monoxide poisoning, because this substance is formed during combustion processes. Gas poisoning (CO) sometimes occurs in country houses due to faulty stove heating, in garages with poor ventilation, in fires and in hazardous industries.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning
The patient experiences drowsiness, headache, redness of the skin, chest pain, lacrimation, dry cough, and hallucinations. In severe cases, gas poisoning can cause fainting or complete loss of consciousness.
It is important to recognize these symptoms in time and start treatment at home in a timely manner! It is necessary to take the poisoned victim out of the room, provide access to fresh air and call an ambulance. To reduce the toxic effect of gas on the victim’s body, Enterosgel sorbent can be used.
Types of poisoning
Depending on the routes through which the poison enters the human body, scientists distinguish:
Inhalation poisoning
With this method of poisoning, toxic substances enter the bronchi and lungs with inhaled air.
Inhalation drugs include:
- poisoning by vapors of acids and alkalis;
- carbon monoxide poisoning;
- ammonia poisoning;
- household gas poisoning;
- chlorine poisoning;
- mercury vapor poisoning.
Similar poisonings are possible at chemical industry enterprises, metallurgy and other industries. Providing first aid in case of gas poisoning or toxic fumes at work, when there are many victims, is carried out in special protective equipment.
In everyday life, people more often suffer from carbon monoxide or natural gas leaks. First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning is to take the victim to fresh air!
Contact poisoning
In this case, toxins enter the body through the skin or mucous membranes.
Contact poisonings include:
- pesticide poisoning;
- fluoride salt poisoning;
- benzene poisoning;
- petroleum product poisoning;
- formaldehyde poisoning.
First aid for poisoning is as follows: the victim should be immediately removed from the area affected by the toxic substance, remove his clothes, remove the poison from the skin with a cloth or cotton wool, and wash the toxic substance from the skin with running water and soap.
Poisoning due to an insect, animal or snake bite
The poison enters through a skin defect (bite, wound). The first thing to do in case of poisoning at home is to place an ice pack on the bite site; if a limb has been damaged by the bite, then a venous tourniquet is applied above the bite site to reduce the spread of poison through the bloodstream.
Oral poisoning (by mouth)
Such poisonings include:
- food poisoning;
- alcohol poisoning;
- drug poisoning;
- mushroom poisoning;
- chemical poisoning.
First aid for poisoning should be started at the first signs of intoxication.
Gastric lavage and siphon enema are performed. If the patient is unconscious, in case of poisoning with caustic substances, lavage is carried out through a gastric tube.
The most common cases are household poisoning, food poisoning, alcohol poisoning and mushroom poisoning. The nervous, respiratory and digestive systems of the body are most affected by the effects of the toxic substance. Providing first aid for poisoning is aimed at stopping the effects of poison on the body.
The main condition for first aid in case of poisoning is emergency hospitalization in intensive care or toxicology departments, where antidote therapy and artificial detoxification are possible.
Arsenic poisoning
Arsenic gets its name from its use in controlling rats and mice. Arsenic poisoning can result from an industrial accident, accidental ingestion, suicide, or homicide.
Symptoms of rat poison poisoning
- Heartbeat;
- Nausea;
- Dyspnea;
- Vomit;
- General weakness;
- Diarrhea;
- Convulsions;
- Loss of consciousness;
- Stomach ache.
Acute arsenic poisoning can result in acute renal failure. With chronic poisoning, nervous system disorders occur, skin cancer and lung cancer develop.
Symptoms of mercury poisoning
Intoxication of the body with mercury compounds can be acute and chronic. Mercury vapor poisoning is possible in hazardous industries. Poisoning occurs when a fluorescent lamp is damaged, or mercury poisoning from a thermometer.
Symptoms that occur when inhaling mercury vapor include: drooling, dry cough, vomiting, headache and abdominal pain, and frequent urination. Poisoning in children often occurs due to parental negligence: remember, you cannot leave the first aid kit in a place accessible to the baby - this risks not only a broken thermometer, but also drug poisoning!
Chronic mercury intoxication causes depression, insomnia and other disorders of the central nervous system, skin rashes, sweating, and hair loss.
Thallium poisoning
Thallium is a highly toxic poison that enters the body through the skin, respiratory and digestive organs. Thallium poisoning is rare in everyday life; this poison is more often used for criminal purposes.
How many hours does it take for signs of poisoning to develop? Symptoms in adults occur within 3 hours and resemble an acute viral infection: runny nose, dry cough, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain. Among the late manifestations of intoxication: hair loss, memory impairment, paralysis.
Mechanism of development of poisoning
The most common cause of food poisoning is pathogens that get into food products when the rules of storage or preparation of food are violated. Failure to comply with personal hygiene rules can also cause poisoning. For example, the dish was prepared in full compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards, but the person simply did not wash his hands before eating.
When toxins enter the gastrointestinal tract, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the digestive system - the stomach, large and small intestines - begins.
Content:
- Mechanism of development of poisoning
- Symptoms of food poisoning
- Diagnosis of food poisoning
- First aid for food poisoning
Further, toxins, penetrating the blood, spread throughout the body. At this moment, all organs and systems of the human body suffer. With food poisoning, the load on the liver, heart and nervous system increases significantly. In some cases, this condition can cause the death of the patient.
Food may contain pathogens of infectious diseases - typhoid fever, dysentery, salmonellosis, etc. Botulism bacteria are considered one of the most dangerous pathological microorganisms. When they multiply under anaerobic conditions, a toxin is released, which, when entering the body, leads to severe intoxication and a sharp deterioration in the general condition. The patient can be cured exclusively in a hospital setting using special antidote serums. Botulism can cause vision loss, disability or death.
Poisoning in animals
Don’t think that only humans can get poisoned. “Our smaller brothers” often suffer from poisoning. The reason for this is the well-known hunting instinct, when a dog or cat conducts a “study” of new substances, testing them to their teeth.
- Symptoms of poisoning in cats and dogs arise from intoxication with various chemicals, poor quality food, medications, and insect bites;
- Symptoms of poisoning in dogs and other pets: lethargy, drooling, refusal to eat, vomiting, loss of coordination, diarrhea, dilated pupils, convulsions.
If signs of poisoning appear, contact your veterinarian!
Enterosgel and treatment of poisoning
The ability of carbon (coal) and silicon (clay) sorbents to absorb harmful substances has been known for a long time. Our ancestors intuitively understood that wounds heal better if they are sprinkled with ashes or covered with clay. Ashes and clay were used for stomach pain, fever and other illnesses.
However, the low absorbency and tablet forms of enterosorbents limited their medicinal properties until recently. The invention of Enterosgel, a new generation gel-like sorbent, at the end of the 20th century opened up additional opportunities for saving lives and treating patients with poisoning.
Enterosgel is especially effective for oral poisoning. Often, its timely use relieves all symptoms of food poisoning, since it absorbs and removes not only toxins, but also pathogenic bacteria, without disturbing the normal intestinal flora. Toxins do not have time to be absorbed into the blood, and bacteria do not have time to multiply and show aggression. Enterosgel removes from the gastrointestinal tract the products of secondary inflammation and intoxication that accompany poisoning with caustic substances.
No matter how the poison enters the body, it enters the intestinal lumen through the intestinal mucosa and is then reabsorbed. Therefore, Enterosgel is used for almost all types of acute poisoning.
Enterosgel is also used to prevent chronic poisoning in people employed in hazardous work.
First aid for poisoning
For severe poisoning, or poisoning that occurs after eating mushrooms or canned food, you need to call an ambulance.
Symptoms that require medical attention:
- very high temperature;
- frequent diarrhea, watery stools, blood;
- signs of botulism and poisoning from poisonous mushrooms - impaired vision and coordination, difficulty swallowing, hallucinations, delirium and muscle weakness;
- a small child, a pregnant woman or an elderly person was injured.
What to do in case of poisoning:
- Gastric lavage. Give the patient water or a solution of soda, salt, potassium permanganate, and then induce vomiting. You should drink no more than half a liter of liquid at a time. Washing should be continued until there are no impurities in the vomit. Typically this requires approximately five liters of liquid;
- Taking enterosorbent - a drug that binds and removes toxins. This can be activated carbon, polysorb, filtrum or enterosgel;
- Eliminate dehydration and restore electrolyte balance. To achieve this goal, you need to drink plenty of fluids (weak tea and water at room temperature) and use special solutions (rehydron and glucosolan).
In most cases, relief occurs on the second day, and all signs disappear within three to five days. Otherwise, a therapist or gastroenterologist will be able to figure out the problem.
