Symptoms and treatment of food poisoning. What to do in case of chemical poisoning? Is poisoning dangerous?

Recovery of the body after food poisoning is extremely important. Intoxication is the strongest stress for all internal organs; Special attention your health after recovery.

Consequences of food poisoning

Much depends on the severity of the disease. If after poisoning there is nausea, abdominal pain, a slight temperature, then these are the first signs that the body has not yet fully recovered. He needs a gentle regime.

The main consequences of food intoxication include:

  • Dehydration. Diarrhea and vomiting quickly remove fluid from the body, and it is vital for cleansing toxins.
  • A blow to the liver. This organ is a real filter. When toxins enter, the liver takes almost the entire blow on itself.
  • Inflammation of the pancreas. It often occurs in people with pancreatitis who have undergone severe intoxication.
  • Inflammatory processes in the stomach. The poison first got into the stomach, heaped up things there. Naturally, it takes time to restore the work of the stomach.
  • Dysbacteriosis. After abundant diarrhea and treatment of poisoning, all useful microflora was destroyed. It needs to be restored.

All these are the main consequences. In the case of chronic diseases, their exacerbation is possible.

What to do after food poisoning

First you need to make sure that the body is on the mend. The patient should feel much better. Pass vomiting, diarrhea, normalize the temperature. Already without taking drugs, the patient should feel better.

The main thing to do after intoxication is to restore fluid. Plentiful drinking is necessary. You can drink water without gas, weak tea, uzvar, weak compote. Some doctors prescribe Rehydron. It helps to quickly restore the water-alkaline balance, which will help to avoid the release of acetone.

Be sure to prescribe a sparing diet that will help not to overload the stomach and intestines, give them time to recover. It is desirable at first to eat fractional portions 5-6 times a day. This will help restore and normalize the work of the stomach.

The rest of the treatment is carried out according to the symptoms and indications. If there are certain problems after intoxication, you should definitely see a doctor. There may be complications that need to be treated.

Treatment after food poisoning

The doctor must understand what complication arose after the poisoning, and give all his strength to eliminate it. After all, if there was mushroom poisoning, then the recovery measures are different. About that, you can read here.

If complications arose in the work of the stomach, then the scheme is as follows:

  • Regidron or plentiful drink.
  • Herbal decoctions. Dry chamomile and calendula are brewed in boiling water. Take half a glass three times a day for half an hour before meals.
  • Infusion of chicory quickly restores the digestive tract.
  • Fractional diet. Food should not be hot or cold, only warm. All heavy foods for digestion are excluded. You can eat only boiled low-fat foods. Flour, smoked, fried, canned are completely excluded. You need to return to your normal diet slowly and gradually.
  • To improve digestion and relieve discomfort, Mezim can be prescribed.

This is a scheme after intoxication with a complication of the work of the stomach.

How to be treated after food poisoning, if there is a complication on the liver? The scheme is this:

  • First of all, you need a strict diet. Fractional nutrition is also practiced. Fatty, bitter, spicy, smoked, flour foods, starchy foods, milk are excluded. The best medicine for the liver there will be cereal porridge.
  • Supportive drugs are prescribed. It can be Essentiale, Allohol, Enerliv, Gepabene.
  • You can use tools traditional medicine. In this case, dandelion root is suitable. It perfectly removes toxins, restores damaged liver cells. You can use decoctions of St. John's wort, milk thistle, immortelle, knotweed, artichoke.


With active treatment and a strict diet, the liver will return to normal in a week.

In case of poisoning, the intestinal microflora most often suffers. The patient may experience constipation or, conversely, diarrhea. It is important to “populate” beneficial bacteria in the intestines. For these purposes, you can use special medications and food. The treatment regimen is as follows:

  • Probiotics. These are the beneficial bacteria that need to be “populated”. It is especially important to drink a course of such drugs after treatment with antibacterial agents. The course is usually 2-4 weeks. Linex, Bifiform, Bifikol, Laktiale, Bifidumbacterin may be prescribed.
  • Prebiotics. At the heart of such drugs is lactulose, which is a nutrient medium for beneficial microflora and destructive for harmful ones. These drugs include Lactusan, Prelax, Hilak Forte.
  • Dairy products. They contain many useful microorganisms that are so necessary for the intestines.
  • Pickled apples, bread kvass are extremely useful for eliminating dysbacteriosis.

It will take at least 2-3 weeks to restore bowel function.

What drugs can be taken after food poisoning

It was said above that in case of complications, treatment is prescribed. It is important that it is prescribed by a doctor. Self-medication is unacceptable, because the body is weakened after intoxication.

Even if there are no visible complications, the doctor usually prescribes strengthening drugs:

  • A few more days after poisoning, you can drink sorbents. This guarantees complete detoxification. Assign Sorbeks, Smecta, Enterosgel, Activated carbon.
  • Regidron. It helps to quickly restore the water-alkaline balance.
  • Liver support drugs. This includes Allochol, Gepabene, Essentiale.
  • Mezim is prescribed to improve digestion.
  • Medications containing beneficial bacteria. It can be Laktiale, Bifiform, Linex, Bifidumbacterin.

But any treatment is prescribed by a doctor, based on the condition and history of the patient.

Allowed and prohibited foods after poisoning

You need to designate a menu. The diet is set for 5-7 days, everyone can withstand it, especially since the feeling of hunger will not be pursued.

Allowed products:

  • rice, oatmeal, buckwheat porridge.
  • Wheat crackers.
  • Boiled low-fat dietary meat.
  • Applesauce.
  • Sauerkraut and apples.
  • Bananas. Allowed only if there is no diarrhea.
  • Shredded carrots.
  • Vegetable soups.

Three days after the improvement, you can gradually introduce other products. The main thing is not to overeat, otherwise it will be stress for the stomach.

Prohibited products include:

  • Fatty foods. Especially meat, fish, smoked meats.
  • Barley and wheat porridge.
  • Beans, corn.
  • Raw vegetables and fruits.
  • Dairy and dairy products.
  • Eggs.
  • Sweets, especially chocolate. Honey should be limited.
  • Flour products, especially yeast dough.
  • Alcohol. You can read about which ones here.
  • Coffee.
  • Carbonated drinks.

Prohibitions should be taken especially carefully, since these products in large quantities can cause an attack with the stomach, especially after such stress as poisoning.

Diet is useful not only after intoxication. It helps the body and in the usual period to cope with stress, and helps to lose weight.

To avoid many diseases, sometimes it is enough to follow preventive measures. About which one, you can read in detail here. By adhering to the described, simple rules, you can reduce the risk of disease.

What not to do immediately after poisoning

There are a number of restrictions that must be adhered to at least the first week after the disease. These include:

  • The use of alcoholic beverages. Alcohol, even in small quantities, causes intoxication, and this can have a bad effect on the body weakened after poisoning.
  • Engage in strenuous, strenuous exercise.
  • Immediately sit down on a mono-diet.
  • Stop the course of antibiotics immediately after improvement.
  • Self-medicate the consequences after intoxication.
  • Be exposed to direct sunlight for a long time.
  • Visit the solarium.
  • Change climate. If there is nowhere to go, and the ticket was bought a long time ago, then you have to go. But, if there is an opportunity to postpone the trip, then you need to use it. Climate change is stressful for an organism weakened by disease.

These restrictions were invented for a reason, they can incur dire consequences.

Conclusion

Poisoning can happen at almost any time of the year, but is more common in hot summer weather. With the right approach to treatment, the patient should feel much better on the 4th day. But, as with any disease, complications are possible.

Intoxication adversely affects the work of the stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas. Therefore, after poisoning, a course of auxiliary, strengthening drugs is often prescribed. For the liver, these are Gepabene, Allochol, Essentiale. For the stomach - Mezim. For the intestines - a course of bifidobacteria. The diet is required. In no case should you overload the gastrointestinal tract after poisoning. Gotta stick to diet food at least 5 days after illness.

Any unpleasant symptom after poisoning should be reported to the attending physician. Only he, knowing the course of the disease, the patient's predisposition, will be able to choose the right course of treatment to restore the body.

Food poisoning is a common problem that occurs when eating low-quality foods. Poisoning has its own specific symptoms and requires medical attention.

Hidden danger of poisoning

Do not underestimate any poisoning, including food poisoning. Causes of food poisoning - the use of inedible products (poisonous mushrooms); low-quality, expired food; food that contains a large number of dangerous bacteria poisoning the body. Food poisoning can also be obtained as a result of non-compliance with the rules of hygiene, and in case of violation of the storage and preparation of food.

To people who are not related to medicine, it may seem that when the first signs of food poisoning appear, such as nausea, weakness, upset in the digestive tract, you should not worry.

Many people know that when such symptoms appear, you need to drink Activated carbon or any other sorbent available at home. But this is not always enough. In severe cases of poisoning, first aid may be required.

Food intoxication is not the only problem that can occur in a person who has food poisoning. Eating poor-quality food can result in infection with an intestinal infection.

Diagnoses that may result from poisoning

If the food contained certain harmful bacteria, they can provoke the development of unpleasant and requiring long-term medical treatment of diseases.

The most common diseases resulting from poisoning include:

  1. Dysentery is an acute infectious disease caused by the Shigella bacterium. It is characterized by severe intoxication of the whole organism and inflammation of the intestines. In the people, the disease is known under the name "bloody diarrhea". In cases of complications, dysentery is dangerous with a possible rupture of the intestine. Requires medical treatment.
  2. Botulism is a complex infectious disease that is accompanied by severe intoxication. Botulism sticks most often multiply in improperly canned foods, fish, sausages. At the slightest suspicion of the possibility of infection with botulism, you need to see a doctor. In cases of delayed treatment, the disease is dangerous with irreversible damage to the nervous system and can lead to death.
  3. Escherichoz - infectious disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract. Poisoning in escherihosis is accompanied by the development of acute enterocolitis and enteritis. Infection can occur in the absence of hygiene, through water and food, and is often observed in young children. Definitely requires medical intervention and medication.
  4. Salmonellosis is a type of intestinal infection, which is accompanied by severe intoxication, affects the gastrointestinal tract. With untimely treatment, it can provoke the development of renal failure. Requires mandatory treatment in a medical institution.

First symptoms and signs

The first symptoms of food poisoning in adults and children can appear both 2-4 hours after eating, and a day later. Food intoxication activates the protective reactions of the body, which begins to reject the harmful substances that have entered it. Often one of the first symptoms indicating food poisoning in humans is nausea and vomiting. The poisoned person may feel sudden lethargy, weakness, unprovoked severe fatigue.

In addition, food poisoning, which requires help and treatment, can manifest itself with the following symptoms:

  • diarrhea;
  • a slight increase in temperature;
  • abdominal pain;
  • strong thirst;
  • increased sweating, chills, pallor of the lips and skin of the face.

If a person suspects that they have recently eaten food of questionable quality and they are showing similar symptoms of food poisoning, they should not be ignored. Provided that vomiting and urination are infrequent, and abdominal pain is moderate, you can treat and provide first aid for food poisoning at home on your own.

How to deal with food poisoning at home

After the first symptoms of food poisoning appear, the question arises of how to help the body cope with intoxication. This process at home can be divided into several main stages:

  1. Cleansing the stomach - if the intake of poor-quality food, which could be poisoned, has been recently completed, first of all, you need to cleanse the stomach of its remnants. To do this, you need to drink about 2 liters of a weak solution of potassium permanganate or a 2% soda solution. Vomiting is caused until all the remnants of food come out of the stomach along with the solution.
  2. Sorbent intake - to cleanse the body of harmful substances that have already been absorbed. For these purposes, it is recommended to use Smecta, activated charcoal or white charcoal. If necessary, first aid can be provided by any other sorbent that is available in the home first aid kit (Enterosgel, Laktofiltrum).
  3. Restoration of water balance is an important stage, without which first aid for food poisoning cannot be dispensed with. With severe diarrhea and vomiting, a person loses a lot of fluid, which must be replenished by drinking plenty of water. In addition to water and tea, you can use this medicinal product like Regidron. It is recommended to drink at least 3 liters of liquid during the day.

In what cases should you seriously worry and consult a doctor

If first aid for food poisoning has been provided, but severe vomiting and diarrhea do not go away within the next two to three hours, it is worth calling ambulance. Treatment of food poisoning at home can have negative consequences in cases where the patient needs more serious qualified help than just taking a sorbent. In case of poisoning with poisonous mushrooms, an ambulance should be called immediately.

For example, the poison of the pale toadstool can destroy liver cells in a short time. Exotoxic butulism sticks that enter the body with food, if first aid is not provided, cause not only poisoning, but also affect the human nervous system.

Do not hesitate to call an ambulance so that a qualified first aid is provided to a person if the symptoms of food poisoning intensify.

  • body temperature increased to 39 ° C and above;
  • the poisoned person complains of very severe cramps or constant abdominal cramps;
  • the stomach became hard or strongly swollen;
  • a skin rash appeared on the body;
  • the main signs of food poisoning were supplemented by inflammation and pain in the joints;
  • breathing disorders became noticeable, difficulty swallowing is observed;
  • blood is visible in the patient's stool or vomit.

Treatment in a hospital

If the use of poor-quality food has occurred relatively recently, and the patient has all the first signs of food poisoning, except for vomiting, gastric lavage with a probe is used in a hospital. In the absence of diarrhea, a siphon enema may be used. The main goal of these procedures is to rid the body of the remnants of toxic substances as soon as possible.

The decision on how to treat food poisoning is made by the attending physician. Therapy will depend on the severity of the patient's condition and the type of poisoning.

The following groups of drugs are most often used:

  1. Painkillers (Spazgan, No-Shpa) - relieve acute pain and spasms.
  2. Antipyretics (Paracetamol, Analgin + Diphenhydramine) - are used at temperatures above 39 ° C, and at lower temperatures, in cases where patients can hardly tolerate it.
  3. Sorption preparations - most often used various enterosorbents. They are prescribed in the intervals between taking other drugs (the difference should be at least 2 hours) and only after the patient's high temperature subsides.
  4. Drugs that stop vomiting and diarrhea are prescribed if the symptoms of food poisoning (vomiting and diarrhea) do not go away for too long or are prolonged and debilitating for the patient.
  5. Rehydrants (Chlorazole, Oralit) - used to restore electrolytes, fight dehydration. In mild cases, they are taken orally. Treatment of severe poisoning can take place with the use of parenteral rehydration. For these purposes, drugs such as Chlosol, Trisol, etc. can be used.
  6. Antibiotics, antibacterial and antimicrobial agents are used extremely rarely. They begin treatment in cases where there is a suspicion of mixed poisoning, or when food poisoning in an adult and a child is accompanied by an intestinal infection.
  7. Probiotics are drugs that must be present in the treatment of food poisoning in both children and adult patients, even after all the first symptoms have passed. They help to restore the intestinal microflora, reduce irritation of the intestinal mucosa and provide general support to the digestive tract.

How to speed up recovery

Regardless of where you received treatment and first aid for food poisoning (at home or in a hospital), you need to take some preventive measures to speed up the recovery of the body. First of all, this is a long-term intake of probiotics, which will restore the disturbed flora and help to cope with dysbacteriosis (often appears after prolonged diarrhea). Even after a full recovery, it is worth sticking to a diet for some time - do not use fatty, spicy, fried and alcohol. After suffering intoxication, the body is always weakened, and it should not be loaded with products that are heavy for the gastrointestinal tract.

Foods that cause food poisoning

Prevention of food poisoning primarily requires knowledge of the products that most often become the causes of poisoning.

These include:

  1. Mushrooms, poisonings of which are very serious and often lead to the death of a person. After poisoning inedible mushroom intoxication develops very quickly, and the question of saving a person's life can be calculated in minutes. Possible irreversible damage to the nervous system - this is dangerous mushroom food poisoning, and their prevention in most cases consists in the complete rejection of mushrooms of unknown origin. You should not buy mushrooms at grandmothers' bazaars or eat them at a party, where it is impossible to check what kind of mushroom is in the proposed dish.
  2. Vegetables and fruits often contain various fertilizers and are chemically processed. They may contain residues of poisons and pesticides, which, when ingested, provoke severe intoxication. In hot weather, if stored improperly, vegetables and fruits can become breeding grounds for bacteria, which also cause poisoning.
  3. Fish and meat - if stored and processed improperly, become breeding grounds for harmful bacteria and microorganisms.
  4. Eggs, milk and dairy products - with improper heat treatment and storage, they can transfer harmful microorganisms from a sick animal to a person. They can cause not only poisoning, but also human infection with salmonellosis, dysentery.

How to protect yourself from poisoning

The causes of food poisoning are varied, but quite effective prevention of food poisoning exists. Any, even the simplest disease, is always much easier to prevent than to treat later. There are developed recommendations on how to avoid food poisoning and protect yourself from its unpleasant consequences as much as possible. If the choice of food and places where food is taken is done responsibly and consciously, many unpleasant problems can be prevented.

Expiry date must be checked

Being extra careful while shopping will help avoid the problems that food poisoning brings with it. The habit of checking the expiration date on the labels should become an unshakable rule. If possible, do not even eat food that is nearing its expiration date.

When choosing products, you should be realistic and understand that in modern stores they have long learned, if necessary, to interrupt the finally allowed date for the use of goods. Even if the product has a normal expiration date, but an unpleasant odor emanates from it, and in a glass container you can see that the sauce or mayonnaise has exfoliated; cottage cheese dripped - you should immediately refuse to buy such goods in order to prevent possible food poisoning.

What foods should be avoided

When shopping, it is recommended to avoid products with broken packaging. Canned food with swollen lids; fish, the hermetic packaging of which is broken; crumpled packs of juice - everything should be banned for eating.

Prevention of food poisoning also consists in the complete rejection of dishes that carry a potential threat. At a party, never eat forest mushrooms and dishes from them. In the hot season, completely abandon salads with mayonnaise and do not buy confectionery with creams. These products spoil very quickly and often cause poisoning.

Proper food processing at home

Compliance with the rules of heat treatment of products and their storage at home is also very important. Meat and fish should always be cooked well. Their use in raw form should be completely abandoned. Eggs should not be consumed raw either (they may be carriers of salmonellosis). Food should be thawed immediately before cooking. Fruits and vegetables should not be rinsed in running water before use, but washed very thoroughly.

If meat with an unpleasant odor appears in the refrigerator, it must be thrown out immediately. You should not hope that by carefully frying it, you can protect yourself from intoxication.

Where not to buy food

Another answer to the question of how to avoid poisoning is the habit of eating only in well-known and proven places. Shawarma stalls, vans with hot dogs and hamburgers that are cooked on the go, even if they theoretically comply with all sanitary and epidemic standards, should not inspire confidence.

The prospect of stopping while traveling at a roadside cafe and ordering a juicy kebab there can also end in poisoning with stale food. It is almost impossible to check the origin of meat and compliance with the regime of its storage in such places.

Poisoning is a violation of the work of various organs human body due to the ingestion of toxic substances. If a large amount of caustic substances enter the body in a short period of time (for example, a large portion of alcohol is drunk at one time), acute poisoning occurs. If toxic substances act on a person in small portions over a relatively long period of time (with daily inhalation of glue vapors), poisoning becomes chronic. Symptoms of such poisoning may not be as severe as in acute poisoning, but also need emergency medical attention.

What is considered poison for the human body

Any substance can be poisonous from environment if, when it enters the human body, it provokes severe disruption of life and activity. Can cause serious harm:

  • berries;
  • shrub leaves;
  • mushrooms;
  • substances secreted by certain insects;
  • animals,
  • the inhabitants of the sea;
  • chemical substances;
  • medicines.

Degree of poisoning depends on the dose of the poison, the individual reaction of the person. Defeat can cause even the most harmless grass or edible fruits. That is why it is extremely important never to taste unfamiliar berries and mushrooms, or plants that you encounter for the first time.

Most often, poisoning is caused by:

  • stale food products unsuitable for consumption with an expired shelf life;
  • poisons secreted by some animals, plants, poisonous mushrooms;
  • household chemicals (washing powders, detergents);
  • industrial poisons used in production and at home (varnishes, paints, solvents, adhesives);
  • fertilizers and pesticides that are used for work in the garden and in the garden;
  • tobacco;
  • medications;
  • alcohol;
  • narcotic substances.

What is dangerous acute poisoning

Will a person survive as a result of poisoning or remain severely disabled, depends on whether provide timely medical care whether the poison that caused the poisoning was correctly installed. Especially acute poisoning is dangerous for adolescents and children. Poisoning affects:

  • to the respiratory rate
  • skeletal development;
  • muscle development;
  • work of the pancreas and more.

For serious complications or death sometimes even the smallest dose of a toxic substance is enough for a child. Therefore, poisoning should be treated as a serious danger requiring urgent medical attention.

How poisoning manifests itself

Symptoms of poisoning very diverse and depend on which poison entered the body and in what way. Poisoning is characterized by:

  • a sharp drop in body temperature to 32 degrees;
  • a sharp increase in temperature up to 40 degrees;
  • there is a specific bad breath;
  • vomit;
  • nausea;
  • changes in skin color or urine color;
  • severe pain and burning;
  • severe swelling;
  • ulceration of the skin or mucous membranes at the site of the poison;
  • rash;
  • convulsions;
  • headache;
  • dyspnea;
  • loss of consciousness;
  • respiratory failure;
  • swallowing disorder;
  • tinnitus;
  • partial or complete hearing loss;
  • vision loss;
  • loss of ability to distinguish colors;
  • the appearance of flies before the eyes;
  • gait disturbance;
  • impaired coordination of movements;
  • extreme agitation or drowsiness;
  • pupil dilation;
  • stop breathing;
  • lack of pulse.

What to do if poisoning occurs

If poisoning is suspected, the victim should immediately receive first aid. Be sure to seek help from a medical institution, call an ambulance.

Article content: classList.toggle()">expand

Carbon monoxide is a strong toxic substance that, when it enters the body, leads to disruption of the functioning of its organs and systems.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur in a variety of places. This substance is odorless, which undoubtedly increases its danger, since a person is not aware of its presence in the air.

The whole body is forced to work in conditions of severe oxygen deficiency. This leads to serious consequences: damage to the heart, brain, lungs, skeletal muscles.

The effect of carbon monoxide on the human body

First of all, it is necessary to consider its effect on the composition and functioning of the blood. This dangerous substance enters the human body through the respiratory tract into the lungs, which are well supplied with blood. It is here that the poison is quickly absorbed into the blood.

In the bloodstream, carbon monoxide seeks out red blood cells and binds to them. These blood cells, in turn, perform an important function - the respiratory. That is, they bind oxygen and carry it to all organs and tissues.

In case of poisoning, carboxyhemoglobin is formed in the blood, which is no longer able to perform this function. That is, red blood cells lose their ability to capture oxygen. In this case, a severe pathological condition develops - hypoxia, that is, oxygen starvation.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur under the following conditions:

  • household. Fires release large amounts of this dangerous gas. This happens when the interior is burning, in the decoration of which there is plastic, wiring and household appliances. When you stay for a long time in a closed garage where the car is running. In a traffic jam in calm weather. In case of leakage of domestic gas, as well as improper operation of furnace equipment;
  • Production. Poisoning can occur in the gas and automotive industries. Where carbon monoxide is used for synthesis organic compounds.

It should be noted that children, pregnant women, the elderly and debilitated people are most sensitive to carbon monoxide. Let us consider in more detail the consequences of both individual body systems.

Influence on the work of the heart

In conditions of hypoxia, the heart turns on compensatory devices. That is, under any conditions, it tries to fulfill its main function - to supply the body with oxygen-enriched blood.


With the penetration of carbon monoxide into the blood, the concentration of oxygen in it is significantly reduced.
In this case, the heart begins to distill blood at a faster rate through the systemic and pulmonary circulation. This leads to tachycardia - an increase in the number of heartbeats per minute.

At first, the tachycardia is moderate, but with severe poisoning or prolonged exposure to gas on the body, the pulse becomes frequent, but poorly filled. The heart rate reaches 130 - 140 beats per minute.

Against the background of severe tachycardia and hypoxia, the likelihood of developing myocardial infarction is high.

Consequences for the central nervous system

With the blood flow, the toxin enters the brain, where it has a negative effect on its various departments. At first, a person feels a strong headache, "cerebral vomiting" may occur, which occurs when the center of the brain responsible for digestion is irritated.

Carbon monoxide leads to disruption of nervous regulation, which is manifested by dysfunction of various sensory organs.:

  • Hearing impairment (noise, ringing), decrease in its severity;
  • Violation of visual function. There may be fog, flies before the eyes, blurry pictures, decreased visual acuity (may be significant).

With damage to the cerebellum, the victim has such pathological signs as a wobbly gait and discoordination.

In severe cases, a large volume of the brain is affected, which is manifested by such consequences as convulsive syndrome and coma.

Carbon monoxide and the respiratory system

Hypoxia provokes a violation of the respiratory system. There is hyperventilation of the lungs, that is, shortness of breath, which progresses over time. This is a compensatory mechanism. Thus, the lungs try to eliminate the lack of oxygen in the body.

If a person with carbon monoxide poisoning is not immediately helped, then his breathing becomes superficial, that is, unproductive. In this case, respiratory arrest and death of the victim may occur.

The effect of gas on skeletal muscle

Muscles need a constant supply of oxygen. With its lack, they cease to function in full. The person experiences severe weakness. He cannot stand on his feet, they give way.

Similar articles

In severe cases, muscle weakness is pronounced. A person is not able to get up, pick up even a light object, call for help.

Symptoms of poisoning

The clinical picture of poisoning in this case depends on the severity of the pathological process (the amount of carbon monoxide affecting the body and the time the person stays in adverse conditions).

There are 3 degrees of severity of carbon monoxide poisoning:

  • The first or mild degree is manifested by headache, pressure in the temples and forehead, nausea, single vomiting. There is dizziness and slight weakness in the body. The person complains of rapid heartbeat and chest tightness. In rare cases, auditory hallucinations are recorded;
  • Second or medium severity characterized by neurological symptoms. The patient has complete or partial paresis and paralysis. The victim is drowsy, his hearing is reduced;
  • Third or severe degree. The patient is in critical condition and requires immediate medical attention. There are convulsions, loss of consciousness. Uncontrolled emptying of the bladder and bowels may occur. Breathing is shallow, pupils almost do not react to light. There is a high probability of death before arrival at the hospital.

First aid and subsequent recovery

A person who has received carbon monoxide poisoning needs first aid as soon as possible. The outcome of poisoning depends on this.

Algorithm for providing first aid to the victim:


The ambulance team continues to provide assistance to the victim:

  • Oxygen is supplied through an oxygen mask;
  • It is necessary to introduce an antidote - Acizol. The solution is administered intramuscularly in a volume of 1 milliliter. This drug eliminates negative impact carbon monoxide. It is able to destroy the carboxyhemoglobin formed in the blood;
  • To restore the functions of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, the introduction of Caffeine subcutaneously is indicated;
  • Carboxylase is administered intravenously. This drug is an enzyme that breaks down carboxyhemoglobin;
  • Hospitalization of the victim in a hospital.

In the hospital, symptomatic therapy is carried out, and treatment with Acizol is also continued. The course of treatment with this drug is at least 7 days.

Consequences of carbon monoxide poisoning

It should be remembered that carbon monoxide is a highly toxic substance. Therefore, the consequences of poisoning are very diverse.

Doctors distinguish 2 types of consequences that arise due to the toxic effects of this substance:

  • Early occurs in the first few days after poisoning;
  • Late - develop after a few weeks or months.

Early complications include:


Late consequences are due to the fact that many organs and systems were damaged under the influence of carbon monoxide.

Late negative effects are most often observed from the side of the nervous, cardiovascular and respiratory systems:


- this is a damage to the body due to the ingress of harmful substances or poisons into it. The penetration of toxins is possible through the mouth with food or water, the nasopharynx with air, as well as through the skin. The disease state of the body can be very severe, so it is important to know the types of intoxication, the symptoms and the basics of first aid.

Poisoning - the penetration of harmful toxins into the body

Types of poisoning

Based on the pathogenic substance, which has become a provoking factor in the intoxication of the body, there are several main types of poisoning:

  • food;
  • exposure to toxic substances and chemicals;
  • poisoning with alcohol, drugs, medicines;
  • alkaline substances and acids;
  • carbon monoxide or household gas;
  • self-poisoning (intoxication of the body with its own waste products - feces).

Depending on the ways of penetration into the body, the severity of the disease and the conditions of exposure to internal organs, intoxication has a specific classification.

According to the method of entry into the body:

  • oral - through the oral cavity;
  • percutaneous - through the skin;
  • parenteral - through injections intramuscularly, intravenously, subcutaneously;
  • biological - bites of insects, snakes, animals;
  • inhalation - through the respiratory tract;
  • cavity (penetration of toxins into the ear canal, genitals, anus).

Harmful substances can enter the body through an injection

According to the degree of impact on vital systems:

  • lungs;
  • medium;
  • strong;
  • extremely heavy.

According to symptoms:

  • acute - a single defeat by toxic substances, manifests itself sharply and brightly;
  • chronic - are observed as a result of a gradual accumulation of toxins in the body, often signs appear and then disappear.

Due to the development of intoxication:

  • household;
  • accidental (in children - medications)
  • production (pairs, poisons at large enterprises);
  • intentional (suicidal).

Types of poisoning differ in clinical manifestations and features of the impact on the human body. To determine the type of intoxication, it is important to know its symptoms and provide first aid in time.

Food poisoning

Food poisoning occurs as a result of eating contaminated or low-quality food.

Products at risk include:

  • meat and fish products;
  • milk, kefir, fermented baked milk, butter, sour cream, yogurt;
  • eggs;
  • cream cakes, biscuits.

Pathogenic microorganisms in products that have undergone improper heat treatment or storage, as a result of which they have deteriorated, are capable of provoking intoxication.

The first symptoms of food poisoning occur 2-4 hours after eating:

  • malaise and weakness appear;
  • begins to feel sick, frequent vomiting occurs;
  • diarrhea can be with blood impurities and thick greenish mucus;
  • pain or paroxysmal discomfort in the abdomen;
  • pallor of the skin.

Diarrhea occurs with food poisoning

With an increase in intoxication, a decrease in pressure is possible, a change in the heart rhythm (the pulse becomes more frequent or less frequent), a temperature appears, the patient begins to be thirsty.

The most dangerous types of food intoxication are poisonous mushrooms (missing, poisonous, improperly stored) and botulism (an acute infection that pathogenically affects the nervous system).

Medicine poisoning

Causes of excessive intake medical preparations can be:

  • children's access to the first-aid kit (having reached the medicines, the child is able to eat multi-colored pills and provoke poisoning);
  • accidental overdose (non-compliance daily allowance, forgetfulness of the patient);
  • intentional poisoning (with the intent to commit suicide).

The first signs depend on the specific drug. If a person has gone too far with sleeping pills, a strong inhibition of the nervous system occurs, a spasm of the airways occurs and an unconscious state is observed.

Common symptoms of drug poisoning are:

  • dizziness;
  • decrease or increase in blood pressure;
  • difficulty breathing;
  • drowsiness, weakness, malaise;
  • abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea.

With drug poisoning, severe dizziness

In most cases, the patient is at risk of losing consciousness within an hour. It is important not to delay in providing an ambulance.

Fecal poisoning

Intoxication of the body occurs due to increased putrefactive processes due to constipation.

Symptoms:

  • headaches in the temporal part;
  • frequent nausea, often with vomiting;
  • pain in muscles and joints;
  • the appearance of fever;
  • weakness, fatigue, drowsiness;
  • loss of appetite.

Temperature rises with stool poisoning

With chronic constipation, sleep can be disturbed, swelling appears, hair falls out, nails exfoliate. To prevent self-poisoning, it is important to exclude stool retention for more than 2 days.

Alcoholic, drug intoxication

The use of low-quality alcoholic beverages, their excessive amount can lead to severe poisoning. This also includes the defeat of ammonia.

Intoxication can be recognized by the following signs:

  • pain in the abdomen, diarrhea;
  • nausea, severe vomiting;
  • headaches and dizziness;
  • loss of orientation in space;
  • prostration.

Alcohol poisoning causes disorientation in space

In severe cases, the person loses consciousness. Paralysis of the respiratory tract is possible, resulting in death.

No less dangerous is drug poisoning. The first signs of intoxication are similar to alcohol damage, only before their manifestations attacks of aggression, overexcitation or euphoria are possible. Psychotropic substances adversely affect the central nervous system, which provokes anxiety, spasms of the respiratory tract, fainting.

Poisoning with poisons and chemicals

Symptoms appear within 20-50 minutes and are pronounced:

  • breathing becomes intermittent;
  • increased separation of saliva and sputum (cough develops);
  • the person sweats profusely;
  • gradually begins to cramp the lower limbs.

Chemical poisoning is characterized by leg cramps

It is important to immediately provide first aid to the patient. Otherwise, there is a high probability of paralysis of the respiratory system and death.

Household or carbon monoxide poisoning

Conditions that can provoke the ingress of carbon monoxide into the body are:

  • production processes that are involved in the synthesis of organic compounds - poisoning with paint, silicate glue, toxic detergents;
  • poor ventilation of the premises;
  • household gas leak in the house due to open dampers in the stoves.

The early clinical picture of such poisoning appears within an hour.

You can recognize it by signs such as:

  • feeling of tightness in the head;
  • dizziness, migraine, tinnitus;
  • increased heart rate.

Gradually, nausea and vomiting appear. If the irritating factor is not quickly eliminated and the person is not taken out into fresh air, breathing becomes difficult, it becomes dark in the eyes, the patient loses consciousness. With a strong toxic effect, convulsions and shortness of breath develop, and cardiac arrest is possible.

Intoxication with alkalis and acids

Caustic alkalis and acids are used in the chemical, textile, paper industries, in the manufacture of soap, artificial fibers. Hazardous compounds enter the body with vapors through the respiratory organs, mucous membranes (eyes), skin or in liquid form through the oral cavity.

The first signs of intoxication:

  • severe pain syndrome of the affected areas (in the mouth, on the lips, in the chest, in the stomach);
  • profuse and painful vomiting with blood;
  • swelling of the larynx;
  • painful shock.

Alkaline and acid poisoning causes swelling of the larynx

Alkalis and acids provoke a chemical burn of the esophagus, nasopharynx, stomach, and oral cavity. High risk of suffocation and complications on internal organs.

Stages of poisoning

Acute intoxication can occur in 2 main stages.

  1. Toxigenic. It begins to develop immediately after the pathogen enters the body. The toxin begins to affect chemical compounds and destroy them, to which the body reacts violently. The toxigenic stage operates until the poison is absorbed into vital tissues.
  2. Somatogenic. It begins after the harmful substance has already collapsed and provoked specific complications in the body.

Toxicogenic stage of poisoning - the entry of harmful substances into the body

The purpose of dividing intoxication into certain stages is to correct selection treatment. In the toxicogenic form, all the forces of doctors go to the speedy removal of toxic substances from the body, while they have not yet been absorbed into the deeper cellular layers. If the somatogenic stage has come, the task of therapy is to restore the functional properties of the internal organs affected by the poison.

Which doctor should I contact?

The specialist who makes the primary diagnosis is. The doctor collects an anamnesis based on the symptoms and complaints of the patient.

  • infectiologist;
  • resuscitator (in case of severe or extremely severe poisoning);
  • toxicologist (during radiation exposure or consumption of products with radionuclides).

With mild intoxication, an examination by a therapist is sufficient. If the patient is unconscious or in serious condition, you should not wait for the doctor, you need to call an ambulance and take the patient to intensive care.

Diagnostics

To find out the source of poisoning and make an accurate diagnosis, the patient is prescribed to undergo a series of studies.

  1. The clinical picture is revealed. The doctor makes an examination and a survey, which makes it possible to determine the type of intoxication as much as possible by the first signs.
  2. Instrumental research. With the help of a cardiogram, the state of the heart is clarified, and an encephalogram shows the activity of the brain. Determine the degree of damage to the internal organs of ultrasound organizations.
  3. Lab tests. The quantitative and qualitative presence of toxic substances in the body is determined, as well as the severity of the effects of poisons on the kidneys, liver, intestines and other vital organs.
An integrated approach to the diagnosis of poisoning allows not only to identify toxic substances, but also to determine the degree of damage to the body.

Cardiogram shows the state of the heart

Treatment

Food, drug, alcohol, or chemical poisoning requires immediate attention. What to do at home and how they help in the ambulance, let's take a closer look.

Providing first aid at home

Any intoxication requires emergency first aid.

It is important not to hesitate and get your bearings on the spot in time:

  1. In case of food poisoning, the victim should be given absorbent drugs (activated charcoal), rinse the stomach with saline, or use a laxative.
  2. In case of toxic damage to the respiratory system (gas, poisons, chemical vapors and acids), the patient must be protected from the irritant, fresh air must be provided. It is important to rinse the throat and mouth with a concentrated soda solution.
  3. In case of mushroom poisoning, it is important to remove poisons from the stomach and intestines as soon as possible. If possible, do an enema, give enterosorbents and laxatives (you can saline solutions).
  4. If a person has been poisoned by alcohol, ammonia will help bring him to his senses. It is important to cleanse the stomach by washing with soda solution or plain water.
  5. With the defeat of toxic substances of the mucous membrane of the eyes. It is necessary to wash the victim under running water for half an hour. At the end of the procedure, it is better to cover the eyes with a clean bandage.
  6. If alkali or acid gets on the skin, immediately remove the pathogenic substance with a cotton pad. In case of alkaline poisoning, treat the affected area with vinegar. The acid is removed under running water.

It is important to provide first aid in time: call a medical team and while it is traveling, alleviate the condition of the victim and prevent the spread of toxins further through the body.

Activated charcoal is the first remedy for food poisoning

Emergency

Upon arrival at the victim, the ambulance team assesses the patient's condition and, depending on the cause of the poisoning, takes appropriate measures. First of all, it flushes the stomach (for food, drug, alcohol poisoning).

If a person has inhaled carbon monoxide:

  • an antidote is administered (the required amount of oxygen);
  • inject anticonvulsant drugs;
  • restore the work of the heart (introduction of glucosides).

In case of carbon monoxide poisoning, injections of special drugs are introduced.

In case of poisoning with alkalis and acids, doctors, after washing the stomach with a large amount of plain water, give the patient narcotic analgesics to prevent a state of shock. In cardiac arrest, chest compressions and artificial respiration are used.

After providing first aid, a team of specialists hospitalizes the victim in the hospital. The patient is observed in the infectious or toxicological department. If necessary, carry out resuscitation measures.

What do they eat when they are poisoned?

To improve the condition and speed up the recovery period, it is important to eat right.

  • vegetable puree soups, not fried and without meat;
  • steam cutlets from chicken or rabbit meat (possible from the 3rd day of the diet) -;
  • steamed fish meatballs;
  • biscuit cookies;
  • rice, buckwheat porridge cooked on water;
  • fruits (non-acidic) and vegetables in a noticed or boiled form;
  • dietary meat soufflé (chicken, beef, rabbit);
  • couple omelet.

In case of poisoning, you need to eat vegetable soup without meat

You can drink boiled warm water or mineral, but without gas. On the 3rd day after poisoning, it is allowed to take fruit jelly, chamomile tea with honey (1/2 tsp). Dairy products ( low-fat kefirs, fermented baked milk, yogurt) is better to enter from the 6th day of the diet.

During the recovery period after intoxication, it is forbidden to drink alcohol, junk food (spicy, salty, smoked, sauces and seasonings, carbonated drinks, flour and sweets). This will save weakened organs from unnecessary stress.

Why is poisoning dangerous?

Penetrating into the human body, toxic substances have a detrimental effect on vital systems and disrupt the work of the latter.

As a result, the following complications may occur:

  • pathological changes in the heart and blood vessels - bradycardia or tachycardia, hypertension, arrhythmia;
  • deviations in nervous system- impaired consciousness, hallucinations, overexcitation, depression (may persist for several years);
  • allergic reactions that have not been observed before (a consequence of food poisoning) - rashes, redness of the skin (there are both adults and children).

Poisoning can cause changes in blood pressure

Severe poisoning is characterized by a violation of respiratory activity, as a result of which the blood supply to the brain slows down. Pulmonary edema and cardiac arrest are most often fatal.

Prevention

It is possible to protect adults and children from various kinds of intoxication if preventive measures are strictly observed.

  1. Properly store food, do not eat suspicious food, unknown or rotten mushrooms, wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly before eating. Fish and meat products should be subjected to high-quality heat treatment.
  2. Do not abuse alcohol, do not try surrogate or ammonia in the form of a hangover.
  3. Keep medicines out of the reach of children, follow the instructions and daily doses.
  4. Adhere to safety rules when working with pesticides, acids and alkalis. Store toxic substances in special containers and rooms.
  5. Monitor household gas. Turn off the faucet after cooking, check stoves and pipes regularly for leaks.

Do not eat unknown types of mushrooms

Observing simple rules safety, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from poisoning with toxic substances of various etiologies.

Poisoning of the body is a dangerous and painful condition in which there is a strong violation of all vital organs - breathing becomes difficult, pulmonary edema and cardiac arrest are possible. It is important to provide assistance to the victim in time, otherwise there is a risk of death. To prevent intoxication of the body, it is necessary to follow safety rules, both at home and at work.