Poisoning

General symptoms of poisoning 

• feeling sick
• being sick
• diarrhoea 
• stomach pain
• drowsiness, dizziness or weakness
• high temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or above
• chills (shivering)
• loss of appetite
• headache
• irritability
• difficulty swallowing 
• breathing difficulties
• producing more saliva than normal
• skin rash
• blue lips and skin(cyanosis)
• burns around the nose or mouth
• blurred vision
• mental confusion
• seizures (fits)
• loss of consciousness
• coma (in severe cases)    (Mayoclinicorg, 2015)

Food poisoning

Food poisoning caused by eating contaminated food. The food contaminated by bacteria, viruses and parasites or their toxins.

The most common complication is dehydration because of the severe water loss by diarrhoea 
(Uptodatecom, 2015)

Presentation
Signs and symptoms of food poisoning

·         Nausea

·         Vomiting

·         Diarrhea

·         Abdominal pain and cramps

·         Fever

Risk factors

·         Older adults

·         Pregnant women

·         Infants and young children

·          People with chronic disease

Management of food poisoning
·         Replacement of lost fluids. Fluids and electrolytes — minerals such as sodium, potassium and calcium that maintain the balance of fluids in your body — lost to persistent diarrhea need to be replaced. Some children and adults with persistent diarrhea or vomiting may need hospitalization, where they can receive salts and fluids through a vein (intravenously), to prevent or treat dehydration.

·         Antibiotics. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics if you have certain kinds of bacterial food poisoning and your symptoms are severe. Food poisoning caused by listeria needs to be treated with intravenous antibiotics during hospitalization. The sooner treatment begins, the better. During pregnancy, prompt antibiotic treatment may help keep the infection from affecting the baby.

Other types of poisons 

The medications most commonly linked to poisoning are:

• paracetamol
• asprin
• tricyclic antidepressants
• SSRIs
• beta blockers 
• calcium-channel blockers
• benzodiazepines
• opioids

Household products

• cleaning products, such as bleach, caustic soda and disinfectant
• cosmetics, such as baby oil, shampoo and nail varnish remover
• DIY products, such as paint, glue and wallpaper paste
• garden products, such as weedkiller and rat poison

Insects and snakes

Bees and wasps inject poison into your skin when they sting you, which can cause pain, swelling and itchiness.

Bites from poisonous snakes can cause diarrhoea and sickness. (Wwwnhsuk, 2015)

Alcohol poisoning 

Alcohol poisoning is a serious and sometimes deadly consequence of drinking large amounts of alcohol in a short period of time. Drinking too much too quickly can affect your breathing, heart rate, body temperature and gag reflex and potentially lead to coma and death.

Alcohol poisoning can also occur when adults or children accidentally or intentionally drink household products that contain alcohol.

A person with alcohol poisoning needs immediate medical attention. If you suspect someone has alcohol poisoning, call for emergency medical help right away.

Presentation 
Alcohol poisoning signs and symptoms 

·         Confusion

·         Vomiting

·         Seizures

·         Slow breathing (less than eight breaths a minute)

·         Irregular breathing (a gap of more than 10 seconds between breaths)

·         Blue-tinged skin or pale skin

·         Low body temperature (hypothermia)

·         Passing out (unconsciousness) and can't be awakened

It's not necessary to have all these signs and symptoms before you seek help. A person who is unconscious or can't be awakened is at risk of dying.

Causes

Alcohol in the form of ethanol (ethyl alcohol) is found in alcoholic beverages, mouthwash, cooking extracts, some medications and certain household products. Ethyl alcohol poisoning generally results from drinking too many alcoholic beverages, especially in a short period of time.

Other forms of alcohol including isopropyl alcohol (found in rubbing alcohol, lotions and some cleaning products) and methanol or ethylene glycol (a common ingredient in antifreeze, paints and solvents) can cause another type of toxic poisoning that requires emergency treatment.

Severe complications can result from alcohol poisoning, including:

·         Choking. Alcohol may cause vomiting. Because it depresses your gag reflex, this increases the risk of choking on vomit if you've passed out.

·         Stopping breathing. Accidentally inhaling vomit into your lungs can lead to a dangerous or fatal interruption of breathing (asphyxiation).

·         Severe dehydration. Vomiting can result in severe dehydration, leading to dangerously low blood pressure and fast heart rate.

·         Seizures. Your blood sugar level may drop low enough to cause seizures.

·         Hypothermia. Your body temperature may drop so low that it leads to cardiac arrest.

·         Brain damage. Heavy drinking may cause irreversible brain damage.

·         Death. Any of the issues above can lead to death.

Management of alcohol poisoning

·         Careful monitoring

·         Prevention of breathing or choking problems

·         Oxygen therapy

·         Fluids given through a vein (intravenously) to prevent dehydration

·         Use of vitamins and glucose to help prevent serious complications of alcohol poisoning

Adults and children who have accidentally consumed methanol or isopropyl alcohol may need hemodialysis — a mechanical way of filtering waste and toxins from your system — to speed the removal of alcohol from their bloodstream.

References

Mayoclinicorg. 2015. Mayoclinicorg. [Online]. [6 May 2015]. Available from: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/food-poisoning/basics/symptoms/con-20031705

Wwwnhsuk. 2015. Wwwnhsuk. [Online]. [6 May 2015]. Available from: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Poisoning/Pages/Symptoms.aspx

Uptodatecom. 2015. Uptodatecom. [Online]. [10 May 2015]. Available from: http://www.uptodate.com/contents/general-approach-to-drug-poisoning-in-adults