Poisoning - symptoms and first aid

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.

Sources

Pellegrino JL., Krob JL., Orkin A. First Aid Education for Opioid Overdose Poisoning: Scoping Review. // Cureus - 2021 - Vol13 - N1 - p.e12454; PMID:33552772
Borra V., Avau B., De Paepe P., Vandekerckhove P., De Buck E. Is placing a victim in the left lateral decubitus position an effective first aid intervention for acute oral poisoning? A systematic review. // Clin Toxicol (Phila) - 2021 - Vol57 - N7 - p.603-616; PMID:30784327
Avau B., Borra V., Vanhove AC., Vandekerckhove P., De Paepe P., De Buck E. First aid interventions by laypeople for acute oral poisoning. // Cochrane Database Syst Rev - 2021 - Vol12 - NNULL - p.CD013230; PMID:30565220
Yue Y., Pan X., Zhang S., Jin J., Wang W., Wang D., Han D., Wang G., Hu Q., Kang J., Ding S., Yang Y., Bu H ., Guo Y. A Randomized Controlled Trial of Puncturing and Bloodletting at Twelve Hand Jing Points to Treat Acute Carbon Monoxide Poisoning as Adjunct to First Aid Treatment: A Study Protocol. // Evid Based Complement Alternat Med - 2015 - Vol2015 - NNULL - p.827305; PMID:26339271
Goktas S., Yildirim G., Kose S., Yildirim S., Ozhan F., Senturan L. First Aid Knowledge of University Students in Poisoning Cases. // Turk J Emerg Med - 2014 - Vol14 - N4 - p.153-9; PMID:27437513

First aid for food poisoning

In case of food poisoning, the “culprits” are most often foods contaminated with pathogenic microbes or containing microbial toxins. The source of infection can also be water contaminated with bacteria.

Symptoms of poisoning develop quite quickly - from half an hour to several hours after eating.

What to do in case of poisoning?

It is necessary to clear the stomach of the toxic substance as soon as possible. This can be done before the ambulance arrives, by washing the stomach with 1-2 liters of boiled water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate, and giving an anti-poisoning gel - Enterosgel.

In case of diarrhea, it is necessary to replenish fluid loss by giving the patient unsweetened tea and salted water.

First aid if a child is poisoned by poor quality food can be provided by parents.

What can be done:

Rinse the stomach;
Provide plenty of fluids;
Give Enterosgel sorbent (safe and recommended from the first days of life);
Call a doctor.

First aid for poisoning in adults also involves taking Enterosgel sorbent, which effectively absorbs toxins in the intestines. In the absence of diarrhea, the doctor prescribes an enema or the patient is given a saline laxative to remove the toxic substance from the intestines, and detoxification therapy is prescribed.

Prevention and prevention of food poisoning

In order to reduce the risk of developing this disease, you need to:

stop eating foods of unknown origin;
carefully monitor the expiration date of products;
do not store ready-made dishes, especially those with a sour taste, in glazed, galvanized, copper or damaged enamel dishes;
Store canned food in metal cans for no more than two years;
do not consume canned food from dented or bulging cans;
keep the kitchen clean;
wash your hands thoroughly before eating;
wash vegetables and fruits, heat-treat foods;
store perishable food in the refrigerator.

List of scientific literature used:

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA. "Food Safety". Page last reviewed: March 18, 2021.
Fung F., Wang H.S., Menon S. Food safety in the 21st century. Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research. 2021, April, 41(2): 88-95.
Gizaw Z. Public health risks related to food safety issues in the food market: a systematic literature review. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine. 2021, November, 30;24(1):68.
Machado Nardi VA, Auler DP, Teixeira R. Food safety in global supply chains: A literature review. Journal of Food Science. 2020, April, 85(4):883-891.
US Department of Agriculture. Food Safety and Inspection Service. "Foodborne Illness: What Consumers Need to Know." USDA.gov. Page last reviewed: August 14, 2021.
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). "Chemicals, Metals & Pesticides in Food". Page last reviewed: November 03, 2021.
Linich E.P., Safonova E.E. Sanitation and food hygiene. Tutorial. Publisher: Lan, 2021, 188 p.
Yushchuk N.D., Kukhtevich E.V., Kulagina M.G. Foodborne toxic infections. Food poisoning. Tutorial. Publisher: GEOTAR-Media, 2021, 160 p.

Alcohol poisoning

The first first aid for alcohol poisoning is gastric lavage. Thanks to this simple procedure, you can remove drunk alcohol and reduce its absorption in the stomach, thereby reducing alcohol intoxication. After cleansing the stomach of the remnants of “strong” drinks, you need to give the victim Enterosgel sorbent and place him under a blanket.

If a person is unconscious, it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance and lay him on his side - this will reduce the likelihood of vomit getting into the upper respiratory tract.

First aid for alcohol poisoning in a hospital setting involves detoxification therapy, restoring the functioning of vital organs and systems. In a good way, everyone should know what the symptoms of alcohol poisoning look like and what to do if they are detected.

First aid for mushroom poisoning

Inexperienced mushroom pickers often become victims of toadstool poisoning. Mushroom poison causes damage to the central nervous system, liver and kidneys. Therefore, first aid for poisoning with poisonous mushrooms should be provided by doctors!

How can you help a person before the doctor arrives?

After you have called an ambulance, first aid for mushroom poisoning at home consists of gastric lavage. It should be rinsed until the rinsing waters become clear. After this, you can give the victim Enterosgel sorbent.

How to deal with the consequences of food poisoning

metaprebiotics

diarrhea

digestive problems

microflora

microbiota

Food poisoning (intoxication) is a severe functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, which is provoked by pathogens and their metabolic products (toxins), as well as factors not related to pathogenic microflora. Food poisoning caused by consumption of low-quality and thermally unprocessed food of animal and plant origin is more common among the population. Not only any type of poisoning in the midst of an illness is dangerous, but also the consequences that a person faces after recovery.

Symptoms of food poisoning

The pathogenic microorganisms themselves, their metabolic products or other toxic substances, aggressively affect the gastrointestinal tract along its entire length. Food poisoning is accompanied by dehydration (dehydration), damage to the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, and an imbalance of intestinal microflora.

The following are common symptoms of food poisoning:

nausea and vomiting;
stool disorders in the form of diarrhea (the frequency of the urge to defecate and the consistency of stool depends on the severity of poisoning);
pain in the umbilical, left or right iliac region;
bitter taste in the mouth;
muscle weakness;
general malaise;
pale skin;
headache;
increased body temperature;
dyspnea;
drowsiness.

Toxins released by pathogenic microorganisms negatively affect the thermoregulation center located in the hypothalamus. The result of this influence is chills and fever. Diarrhea due to food poisoning is profuse in nature. Diarrhea and vomiting lead to significant loss of body fluids and the development of dehydration. Dehydration or dehydration is accompanied by increased heart rate and increased blood pressure.

The first symptoms of intoxication become apparent within 24 hours from the moment pathogens and other toxic compounds enter the body. Depending on the severity of poisoning, body temperature can range from 37.3-40 degrees.

Classification of food poisoning

Foodborne illnesses are divided into 2 main groups:

Microbial origin. Food intoxication of microbial origin develops when microorganisms of a bacterial or fungal nature enter the body with food. Poisoning can be caused by enterococci, staphylococci, botulinum bacillus, bicilli, vibrios, E. coli, aspergillus, microscopic fungi, and penicillium.
Non-microbial origin. This type of toxic infection is triggered by natural poisons of both plant and animal origin. Such components are found in the core of apricot kernels, poisonous wild berries and mushrooms, some weeds, sprouted potatoes, burbot caviar, and mussels.

Also, food poisoning can develop when salts of heavy metals, pesticides, nitrosamines and cyclic hydrocarbons enter the body.

First aid for food poisoning

If symptoms of food poisoning occur, you must follow the following algorithm:

A person should be given 3-5 glasses of clean water to drink, and then induce a gag reflex by pressing two fingers on the root of the tongue. The procedure should be repeated until the water coming out is clean.
After cleansing the stomach, it is necessary to give the victim an enterosorbent 4 times in a row with an interval of 15 minutes.
The patient should be wrapped up and ensure complete rest. In the first 24 hours, the victim must refrain from eating food.

Nutrition after poisoning

In order not to worsen your general condition, it is important to know what you can eat after poisoning and what it is better to avoid. It is recommended to start eating on the second day after poisoning. You should start with weak chicken broth, moving on to pureed rice soups. The diet includes weak black tea without sugar, day-old white bread, crackers and crackers, baked apples without sugar, semolina, oatmeal, buckwheat porridge with water, lean fish, steamed or boiled.

Exclude semi-finished products, fried and fatty foods, fatty meats and fish, fresh vegetables and fruits, confectionery, baked goods, sauces, seasonings, spices, and fast food from the diet. The food consumed should not create additional stress on the digestive system and should not provoke diarrhea or irritation of the gastrointestinal mucosa. After suffering a food poisoning, it is very important to take care of restoring the intestinal microflora, since in 75% of cases, intestinal dysbiosis develops after poisoning.

It will take a lot of time for the body to restore normal microflora on its own, and it will not be able to do this fully. The question arises of how to restore the intestinal microflora by resorting to outside help. Metaprebiotics are a real first aid for an organism weakened by food poisoning and its consequences.

Stimbifide Plus is a fundamentally new product , which contains fructopolysaccharides and fructooligosaccharides, as well as calcium lactate. Together, these components actively restore the balance of intestinal microflora, providing it with a natural nutrient substrate and preventing the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms.

It has been clinically proven that even the best prebiotic among modern brands does not compete in terms of effectiveness with metaprebiotics. Metaprebiotic Stimbifid Plus not only prevents and treats dysbiosis after food poisoning, but also helps to carefully restore the epithelium of the gastrointestinal tract, which has been damaged by bacterial waste products and other toxic components.

In addition, for severe food poisoning, antibiotics may be prescribed. Stimbifid Plus will help avoid the consequences of antibiotic therapy. It is necessary to start taking the metaprebiotic as early as possible, and continue to take Stimbifide Plus for 1.5-2 weeks after the general condition has normalized.

14.09.2020

54592

/ Doctor Stimbifeed

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First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning

Gas poisoning (CO) is a severe intoxication of the body, which can lead to severe damage to internal organs. According to statistics, carbon monoxide poisoning occupies a leading position among the causes of death from acute poisoning, so it should be taken extremely seriously.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning:

Headache;
Drowsiness;
Chest pain;
Redness of the skin;
Hallucinations;
Dry cough;

Severe gas poisoning is accompanied by loss of consciousness.

It is important to recognize these symptoms in time and start treatment at home in a timely manner!

Providing first aid for carbon monoxide poisoning

First of all, you need to take the victim out of the contaminated room into fresh air and free him from restrictive clothing. To reduce intoxication, give him Enterosgel sorbent and urgently call an ambulance.

First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning is the antidote - acizole. It is recommended to administer the drug as early as possible in case of poisoning of any severity.

Chlorine poisoning

The cause of poisoning with chlorine and its compounds can be violations of safety regulations in chemical laboratories or industrial accidents when containers with chlorine are damaged.

What symptoms of poisoning with chlorine-containing substances may bother the victim? First of all, this is swelling of the eyelids, oral mucosa, respiratory tract, shortness of breath, pain in the eyes, suffocation.

Timely first aid for chlorine poisoning can prevent a terrible complication - pulmonary edema!

What needs to be done? Remove the victim from the room saturated with chlorine vapors, remove clothing soaked in poison, wash exposed and damaged skin with soap and water, wash eyes and rinse mouth. After this, you should give the poisoned person the Enterosgel sorbent and call an ambulance.

First aid for drug poisoning

Drug poisoning can be accidental or intentional. Poisoning in young children occurs due to the fault of adults - tablets are sometimes in a place accessible to children. In case of poisoning at home, it is advisable to find out before the doctor arrives the medicine that the victim took and induce vomiting, then rinse the stomach with warm water and give Enterosgel sorbent.

Providing first aid will help avoid disorders of the cardiac, respiratory and nervous systems.

In a hospital setting, treatment with antidotes, control of intoxication and other resuscitation techniques are carried out to restore the function of internal organs.

First aid for poisoning with acids and alkalis

It is important to remember that in case of poisoning with alkalis and acids that enter through the mouth, it is under no circumstances recommended to rinse the stomach ! The mucous membrane of the digestive tract is covered in numerous chemical burns, and washing can cause gastrointestinal bleeding or perforation of the organ wall.

Toxicologists know which specific antidote to use for poisoning with alkalis and acids, as well as how to provide first aid for poisoning with chemicals, so if a toxic substance gets inside, immediately call an ambulance!

Dehydration manifests itself:

increasing thirst;
dry mucous membranes;
increased heart rate;
headache;
decreased frequency of urination and dark yellow color of urine.

What signs of food poisoning will appear in each specific case may also be determined by the specifics of the toxin. For example, lead intoxication is manifested primarily by damage to the nervous and hematopoietic systems, and not by symptoms associated with the gastrointestinal tract. You also need to remember that food poisoning can be both acute and chronic. In the latter case, toxic compounds enter the body over a long period of time, but in small doses. The clinical picture will differ significantly from the picture of acute poisoning and will more closely resemble the course of a chronic disease.

First aid for poisoning by acid vapors and other volatile substances

Inhalation poisoning, which occurs as a result of inhaling vapors of toxic substances, is considered one of the most severe types of intoxication. From the lungs, the poison quickly penetrates the blood and spreads throughout the body. Therefore, it is important to provide first aid in case of poisoning with gas and toxic vapors of chemicals. The victim must immediately be taken out into fresh air, loosen tight clothing, rinse his mouth with water or a soda solution and call an ambulance.

If a person is unconscious, it is necessary to provide the victim with a flow of fresh air, lay him down with his head elevated and wait for the doctor to arrive.

First aid for ammonia poisoning

Inhalation poisoning can occur during an industrial accident. In such an emergency, first aid for ammonia poisoning includes the following measures:

Immediately remove victims from the contaminated area;
Provide access to clean air;
Allow the victim to rinse the mouth, throat, and nose with water;
Rinse the skin on which the toxic substance has come into contact with running water;
Rinse the stomach;
Call an ambulance and the rescue service.

What is poisoning?

Poisoning occurs due to the ingestion of a certain toxic composition into the body, that is, a substance that can cause temporary or permanent damage to the body. Poisoning can be of several types. Compounds that cause it include: drugs (prescription and veterinary); cleaners; bleaches; pool products; insecticides; herbicides; radiator coolants; petrol; cosmetics Sometimes poisoning can be caused by the bite of poisonous insects or reptiles.

Content:

What is poisoning?
Symptoms of poisoning
First aid for poisoning
How to prevent poisoning?

About 65% of unintentional poisoning victims are children (those aged 1 to 3 years are at greatest risk). Babies are inquisitive, very active and tend to put everything in their mouth. The most common product that causes health problems is paracetamol (a common painkiller found in almost every household). This seemingly safe product can cause significant damage.