Poison 1

About 50 percent of all human poisoning cases in the U.S. involve commonly used drugs or household any substance that produces disease conditions, tissue injury, or products such as aspirin, otherwise interrupts natural life processes when in contact with or barbiturates, insecticides, absorbed into the body. Most poisons taken in sufficient quantity are lethal. A poisonous substance may originate as a mineral, a vegetable, or and cosmetics. Because barbiturates are easily an animal, and it may assume the form of a solid, liquid, or gas. A available, toxic effects poison, depending on the type, may attack the surface of the body or, more seriously, internal organs or the central nervous system. See also resulting from their misuse are not infrequent. Acute OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISEASES,; POISONOUS PLANTS,; RADIATION EFFECTS, BIOLOGICAL,; poisoning may result from overdosage or interaction TOXIN,; VENOM,. with other drugs, especially alcohol. The victim of acute Kinds of Poison. barbiturate poisoning may become agitated and Poisons in humans are usually classified according to their effects as nauseated, or may pass into corrosives, irritants, or narcotics; the last named are also known as a deep sleep marked by systemic or nerve poisons. increasingly shallow respiration. Coma and heart Corrosives include strong acids or alkalies that cause local tissue destruction, externally or internally; that is, they “burn” the skin or the failure may follow. Chronic lining of the stomach. Vomiting occurs immediately, and the vomitus is barbiturate poisoning, caused by prolonged use of intermixed with blood. Common or so-called household corrosive poisons include hydrochloric acid, carbolic acid, bichloride of mercury, the drugs, is usually marked by gastrointestinal irritation, and ammonia. loss of appetite, and anemia. Irritants such as arsenic, mercury, iodine, and laxatives act directly on In advanced stages of chronic barbiturate the mucous membranes, causing gastrointestinal irritation or poisoning the victim may inflammation accompanied by pain and vomiting; diluted corrosive show mental confusion. poisons also have these effects. Irritants include cumulative poisons, those substances that can be absorbed gradually without apparent harm Treatment. until they suddenly take effect.

POISON

Narcotic poisons act upon the central nervous system or upon important organs such as the heart, liver, lungs, or kidneys until they affect the respiratory and circulatory systems. These poisons can cause coma, convulsions, or delirium. Narcotic poisons include alcohol, opium and its derivatives, belladonna, turpentine, potassium cyanide, chloroform, and strychnine. Also included in this category is one of the most dangerous poisons known, botulin toxin, a potent bacterial toxin that is the cause of acute food poisoning (see BOTULISM,).

One of the mainstays of treatment of accidental poisoning is the local or regional poison control center. Most cases of poisoning are handled in the home after telephone consultation with a center.

Blood poisoning, also bacterial in nature, is a condition that occurs when Various treatments may virulent microorganisms invade the bloodstream through a wound or an counteract the effect of a poison. The containers of infection. Symptoms include chills, fever, prostration, and often some toxic substances list infections or secondary abscesses in various organs (see an antidote (a remedy that SEPTICEMIA,). Most poison gases also have an effect on the counteracts the effects of a bloodstream. Because these gases restrict the body's ability to absorb poison chemically), oxygen, they are often considered in a separate category called although few specific asphyxiants, to which group ordinary carbon monoxide belongs. Gas poisons, however, may also be corrosives or irritants (see CHEMICAL antidotes exist. In other cases it is advisable to use AND BIOLOGICAL WARFARE,). an emetic, a substance that

induces vomiting and rids the stomach of certain poisons. Because certain poisons can burn bloodstream. Because these gases restrict the the injured tissues of the body's ability to absorb oxygen, they are often mouth and throat if the considered in a separate category called victim vomits, this asphyxiants, to which group ordinary carbon treatment should only be monoxide belongs. Gas poisons, however, used if it is specified on may also be corrosives or irritants (see the label or advised by a CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL medical professional. In WARFARE,). any instance of poisoning, it is About 50 percent of all human poisoning cases imperative that remedial in the U.S. involve commonly used drugs or treatment be started as household products such as aspirin, soon as possible. barbiturates, insecticides, and cosmetics. Because barbiturates are easily available, toxic effects resulting from their misuse are not infrequent. Acute poisoning may result from overdosage or interaction with other drugs, especially alcohol. The victim of acute barbiturate poisoning may become agitated and nauseated, or may pass into a deep sleep marked by increasingly shallow respiration. Coma and heart failure may follow. Chronic barbiturate poisoning, caused by prolonged use of the drugs, is usually marked by gastrointestinal irritation, loss of appetite, and anemia. In advanced stages of chronic barbiturate poisoning the victim may show mental confusion. Treatment. One of the mainstays of treatment of accidental poisoning is the local or regional poison control center. Most cases of poisoning are handled in the home after telephone consultation with a center. Various treatments may counteract the effect of a poison. The containers of some toxic substances list an antidote (a remedy that counteracts the effects of a poison chemically), although few specific antidotes exist. In other cases it is advisable to use an emetic, a substance that induces vomiting and rids the stomach of certain poisons. Because certain poisons can burn the injured tissues of the mouth and throat if the victim vomits, this treatment should only be used if it is specified on the label or advised by a medical professional. In any instance of poisoning, it is imperative that remedial treatment be started as soon as possible. See FIRST AID,.