Poisoning signs and symptoms can mimic other conditions, such as seizure, alcohol intoxication, stroke and insulin reaction. Signs and symptoms of poisoning may include: Burns or redness around the mouth and lips. Breath that smells like chemicals, such as gasoline or paint thinner.
diarrhoea. stomach pain. drowsiness, dizziness or weakness. high temperature.
Poisoning can cause short-term effects, like a skin rash or brief illness. In serious cases, it can cause brain damage, a coma, or death.
Carbon monoxide (CO) causes the most nondrug poisoning deaths in the United States. Household products, such as cleaning agents, personal care and topical products, and pesticides, are among the top ten substances responsible for poisoning exposures annually.
More than 90% of poisonings occur in the home. Young children have the highest risk of poisoning because of their natural curiosity. More than half of poisonings in children occur in those who are younger than age 6. Some children will swallow just about anything, including unappetizing substances that are poisonous.
In regard to poisoning, chemicals can be divided into three broad groups: agricultural and industrial chemicals, drugs and health care products, and biological poisons—i.e., plant and animal sources. These three groups, along with a fourth category, radiation, are discussed below.
Death from acute poisoning is most commonly the result of either smoke inhalation or illegal drug use. Severe poisoning is only rarely due to the ingestion of chemicals (particularly detergents and cleaning products), cosmetics, or plant matter.
Food poisoning is an illness caused by eating contaminated food. It's not usually serious and most people get better within a few days without treatment. In most cases of food poisoning, the food is contaminated by bacteria, such as salmonella or Escherichia coli (E. coli), or a virus, such as the norovirus.
In regard to poisoning, chemicals can be divided into three broad groups: agricultural and industrial chemicals, drugs and health care products, and biological poisons—i.e., plant and animal sources. These three groups, along with a fourth category, radiation, are discussed below.
Signs or symptoms of poisoning may include:Very large or very small pupils.Rapid or very slow heartbeat.Rapid or very slow breathing.Drooling or very dry mouth.Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.Sleepiness or hyperactivity.Confusion.Slurred speech.More items...•
Moderate signs of poisoning in humans include the following:Blurred vision.Confusion and disorientation.Difficulty in breathing.Drooling.Excessive tearing.Fever.Low blood pressure (hypotension)Loss of muscle control and muscle twitching.More items...•
Get to fresh air right away. Call the toll-free Poison Help line (1-800-222-1222), which connects you to your local poison center.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous, odorless, and colorless gas. The potential sources of carbon monoxide in the house may be poorly functioning heating systems, water heaters, fuel-burning devices with no vents (for example, kerosene heaters, charcoal grills, camping stoves, gasoline-powered electrical generators), and motor vehicles.
It is essential that an individual with carbon monoxide poisoning gets immediate treatment to prevent any untoward and serious complications. Persistent dull headaches, mental confusion, dizziness, and loss of consciousness are some of the warning signs of carbon monoxide poisoning (3).If an individual experiences these symptoms after being exposed to the carbon monoxide gas, then it is ...
Causes. Carbon monoxide poisoning is caused by inhaling combustion fumes. When too much carbon monoxide is in the air you're breathing, your body replaces the oxygen in your red blood cells with carbon monoxide.
Outlook / Prognosis What is the outlook for people with carbon monoxide poisoning? Prompt treatment can reverse the effects of CO poisoning. However, there is a risk of permanent damage to the brain and heart, which need a lot of oxygen.
While medications are the most common cause of accidental poisonings, there are several other everyday items that can potentially be lethal. These include pest killers, cosmetic products, cleaning supplies, and many others. Whenever something toxic is inhaled, ingested or even touched, serious consequences can result.
Some of the common symptoms of an accidental poisoning include breath that has a chemical smell, redness or burns around the lips or mouth, vomiting, seizures and odd odors coming from the body.
If you suspect someone in your home has been poisoned, get to your nearest Complete Care emergency medical facility as fast as possible. Take out anything that may be in their mouth and bring it with you so the doctor will know the right action to take. If the poison is in the person’s eyes or on the skin, flush with lukewarm or cool water.
Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more.
Faulty stoves, fireplaces, or wood-burning appliances are usually to blame for carbon monoxide poisoning in the home. Cars and trucks are common culprits in the business setting, as well as various other sources of carbon monoxide poisoning. Your doctor may ask you to describe how long the symptoms took to become bad enough to seek help.
Carbon monoxide binds to the hemoglobin to create a molecule called carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), which interferes with the body's ability to transport and use oxygen, especially in the brain. Because of that, the symptoms are similar to those of other conditions that affect the brain and cause a decrease in oxygenation (known as hypoxia): 1 Headache 2 Nausea 3 Dizziness 4 Fatigue
The carbon monoxide gets stuck in the bloodstream, and it takes up to several hours to remove it. Anytime carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected, call 911. Don't wait for help. Move to fresh air immediately.
As carbon monoxide poisoning progresses, symptoms get more serious, but are still extremely vague and difficult to identify as specific to carbon monoxide exposure: Confusion. Shortness of breath. Chest pain. Vomiting. Blurry or double vision.
It comes from high levels of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood. Unfortunately, it is often a postmortem examination that reveals such a bright red coloring. The level of carbon monoxide in the blood required to get the skin to that color is so high that it is nearly always fatal.
Long-term exposure to elevated levels of carbon monoxide—even when the levels aren't that high, but the exposure continues for many days or weeks —can lead to peripheral artery disease, cardiomyopathy, and long-term, poorly understood neurological problems.
Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more.
Faulty stoves, fireplaces, or wood-burning appliances are usually to blame for carbon monoxide poisoning in the home. Cars and trucks are common culprits in the business setting, as well as various other sources of carbon monoxide poisoning. Your doctor may ask you to describe how long the symptoms took to become bad enough to seek help.
Carbon monoxide binds to the hemoglobin to create a molecule called carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), which interferes with the body's ability to transport and use oxygen, especially in the brain. Because of that, the symptoms are similar to those of other conditions that affect the brain and cause a decrease in oxygenation (known as hypoxia): 1 Headache 2 Nausea 3 Dizziness 4 Fatigue
The carbon monoxide gets stuck in the bloodstream, and it takes up to several hours to remove it. Anytime carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected, call 911. Don't wait for help. Move to fresh air immediately.
As carbon monoxide poisoning progresses, symptoms get more serious, but are still extremely vague and difficult to identify as specific to carbon monoxide exposure: Confusion. Shortness of breath. Chest pain. Vomiting. Blurry or double vision.
It comes from high levels of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood. Unfortunately, it is often a postmortem examination that reveals such a bright red coloring. The level of carbon monoxide in the blood required to get the skin to that color is so high that it is nearly always fatal.
Long-term exposure to elevated levels of carbon monoxide—even when the levels aren't that high, but the exposure continues for many days or weeks —can lead to peripheral artery disease, cardiomyopathy, and long-term, poorly understood neurological problems.