poisoning Poisoning refers to a type of illness in which toxic chemicals enter the human body through ingestion, inhalation, injection, or skin contact, and upon reaching toxic levels, interact with the organism, leading to temporary or persistent systemic damage to the biological functions or structure.

Poisoning refers to a type of illness in which toxic chemicals enter the human body through ingestion, respiration, injection, or skin contact, reaching a toxic level and interacting with the organism, leading to temporary or lasting systemic damage, causing changes in the functions or structures of the organism.

Clinically, based on the toxicity, dose, and duration of exposure to the toxic substance, poisoning is generally classified into two categories: acute poisoning and chronic poisoning. Acute poisoning refers to the clinical manifestations caused by acute pathological changes after a single large dose exposure or multiple exposures to a toxic substance within 24 hours. If not actively treated, it can be life-threatening. Chronic poisoning refers to the clinical manifestations resulting from long-term accumulation of toxic substances in the body. Its onset is slow, the course is long, and it often lacks specific diagnostic indicators, leading to misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis.

Therefore, for suspected cases of chronic poisoning, a careful medical history inquiry, physical examination, and laboratory analysis of relevant toxic substances should be conducted. Chronic poisoning often occurs in occupational settings. According to the source and use of the toxic substances, poisoning can be classified as: 1) industrial toxins; 2) pharmaceuticals; 3) pesticides; 4) toxic plants and animals. Immediate personalized treatment should be administered upon the occurrence of poisoning.

Food Poisoning

For example, ingestion of poisonous mushrooms, puffer fish, cassava, or consumption of food and drinking water contaminated with bacteria, bacterial metabolites, or other toxins.

Alcohol Poisoning

Consuming a large amount of alcohol at once can lead to acute alcohol poisoning, which significantly affects the central nervous system.

Drug Poisoning

The most common is poisoning from various sedatives and hypnotics. Large single doses of medication can lead to general anesthesia, causing acute drug poisoning. Prolonged abuse of sedatives by some patients can lead to chronic central nervous system poisoning.

Pesticide Poisoning

Pesticides have certain toxicity and may cause pesticide poisoning during production and use. It may also result from accidental or intentional ingestion of large amounts of pesticides, leading to severe damage or even fatalities.

Drug Poisoning

Nationally regulated addictive narcotics (analgesics) and psychiatric drugs, commonly known as "drugs." These chemical substances are actually used for clinical treatment and only become drugs when abused by drug users. Ingesting a large amount of drugs in a short period will cause acute poisoning, leading to respiratory or circulatory failure and death.

Gas Poisoning

Carbon monoxide poisoning is the most common type of poisoning through respiratory exposure. It may occur during metal smelting and gas production processes. In daily life, high concentrations of carbon monoxide can also be produced in poorly ventilated spaces or in cases of gas leakage, for example, when using a coal stove in a sealed room.

Organic Solvent Poisoning

Organic solvents are highly volatile and may cause poisoning through respiratory exposure. Benzene substances can also cause genetic mutations, leading to malignant cell transformation and the development of cancer.

Animal Bite Poisoning

Venom released by poisonous snakes and insects during bites can cause poisoning. Such venom often has cardiac toxicity, neurotoxicity, or can lead to coagulation dysfunction, requiring prompt treatment to avoid the risk of death.

Acute Poisoning

Skin and Mucous Membrane Manifestations: Corrosive substances can cause burns to the skin and oral mucosa, with symptoms such as redness, heat, and burning sensation; yellow, moist skin, or pale complexion, profuse sweating, and bluish lips.

Eye Manifestations: Constricted or dilated pupils, sudden vision loss, blurred vision, and visual nerve inflammation symptoms such as the sensation of moving objects and visual hallucinations.

Nervous System Manifestations: Confusion, unresponsiveness to external stimuli, abnormal speech and behavior; coma, delirium, muscle fibrillation, convulsions, paralysis, mental abnormalities, etc.

Respiratory System Manifestations: Oral odor, such as alcohol, garlic, almond, or chemical reagent-like odors; rapid or deep breathing, or decreased breathing, etc.

Cardiovascular System Manifestations: Arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, hypoxia, fatigue, muscle weakness, abdominal distension, and symptoms of hypokalemia.

Urinary System Manifestations: Reduced or absent urine production, kidney damage, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, etc.

Hematologic System Manifestations: Hemolytic anemia, aplastic anemia, bleeding, coagulation dysfunction, and related symptoms.

Fever: Sustained high fever, chills, and cold sweats.

Chronic Poisoning

Nervous System Manifestations: Local or systemic sensory abnormalities, muscle weakness, mobility impairment, loss of balance and coordination, forgetfulness, delayed reactions, etc.

Digestive System Manifestations: Jaundice of the eyes and skin, loss of appetite, and digestive disorders.

Urinary System Manifestations: Kidney damage, presence of blood in the urine, or the formation of bubbles in the urine that can be sustained over time.

Hematologic System Manifestations: Impaired hematopoietic function, increasing weakness and fatigue, and susceptibility to various infections.

Skeletal System Manifestations: Involvement of the skeletal system can cause bone necrosis.

The most severe complication for poisoned patients is toxic shock, where ischemia and hypoxia can damage the capillaries and alveolar cells in the lungs, leading to pulmonary microvascular embolism, renal ischemic necrosis, and even acute renal failure, which can be life-threatening. In severe cases, it can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome, endangering the patient's life.

Poisoned patients are often fearful and anxious due to the critical condition, and family members should accompany and provide encouragement and comfort, alleviating the patient's stress. For those who have attempted suicide, special attention should be given to psychological care, providing emotional support and eliminating the patient's concerns. Post-suicidal patients should not be left alone in a room, and family members should take turns to accompany them. Sharp objects in the room should be strictly guarded against to prevent self-harm.

Poisoned patients should consume appropriate foods such as porridge and soups to reduce the burden on the gastrointestinal tract. Patients with corrosive substance poisoning should be given liquid diets in the early stages. After recovery, fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, as well as high-quality protein foods such as eggs, fish, and lean meat should be supplemented.

Avoid consuming excessively greasy foods such as fried chicken, hot pot, and raw and cold foods to avoid further irritation to the not fully recovered gastrointestinal tract.

Patients should rest in bed, keep warm, and start to move around when they improve. They should quit smoking and drinking, avoiding nicotine and alcohol-related stimuli.

For those who have ingested corrosive substances, close observation of changes in the oral mucosa is essential, and oral care should be administered.

Occupational exposure poisoning patients should immediately leave their original work positions to avoid further stimulation and worsening of the condition. Those with severe conditions are best to rest at home or arrange for recuperation, reducing physical activity. After stabilization, active participation in rehabilitation training is recommended.

Prevention of poisoning should start from the causes, namely, occupational and lifestyle-related prevention, as follows:

Occupational exposure workers should take necessary protective measures according to industry standards, focus on their work processes, and strive to protect their own safety, avoiding potential dangerous situations.

In daily life, attention should be paid to food safety and hygiene, avoiding the consumption of spoiled foods and minimizing the intake of pickled and takeout foods.

Developing good lifestyle habits, rejecting drugs, and limiting alcohol consumption.

Strictly follow medical advice for medication and avoid self-medication or casual use of health and nutritional supplements with unknown ingredients.

Toxic substances should be stored properly to prevent children from accidentally ingesting or coming into contact with them and suffering from poisoning.