injuries and poisoning
Overview of Poisoning
Symptoms of Poisoning
The symptoms caused by poisoning depend on the poison, the amount taken, and the age and underlying health of the person who takes it. Some poisons are not very potent and cause problems only with prolonged exposure or repeated ingestion of large amounts. Other poisons are so potent that just a drop on the skin can cause severe symptoms. Some poisons cause symptoms within seconds, whereas others cause symptoms only after hours, days, or even years. Some poisons cause few obvious symptoms until they have damaged vital organs—such as the kidneys or liver—sometimes permanently. Ingested and absorbed toxinsgenerally cause bodywide symptoms, often because they deprive the body's cells of oxygen or activate or block enzymes and receptors. Symptoms may include changes in consciousness, body temperature, heart rate, and breathing and many others, depending on the organs affected. Caustic or irritating substancesinjure the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat, gastrointestinal tract, and lungs, causing pain, coughing, vomiting, and shortness of breath. Skin contact with toxinscan cause various symptoms, for example, rashes, pain, and blistering. Prolonged exposures may cause dermatitis. Eye contact with toxinsmay injure the eye, causing eye pain, redness, and loss of vision. Adhesives Antacids Bath oil† Bathtub toys (floating) Bleach (household concentration: less than 6%sodium hypochloriteand less than 0.5% sodium hydroxide) Body conditioners Bubble bath soaps (detergents)† Candles Carbowax (polyethylene glycol) Carboxymethylcellulose (dehydrating material packed with film, books, and other products) Castor oil Cetyl alcohol (also called palmityl oil, a substance used in certain cosmetic products such as shampoos and conditioners) Chalk (calcium carbonate) Colognes Contraceptives Corticosteroids (applied to the skin) Cosmetics Crayons Deodorants Deodorizers, spray and refrigerant Diaper rash cream and ointment Dry cell battery (alkaline) Fabric softeners Glow products, such as glow sticks and glow necklaces Glycerol Glyceryl monostearate Graphite Gums (such as acacia, agar, and ghatti) Hand lotions and creams Hydrogen peroxide(3% medicinal) Incense Indelible markers Ink (the amount in a ballpoint pen) Iodide salts Kaolin Lanolin “Lead” pencils (which are really made of graphite) Linoleic acid Linseed oil (not boiled) Magic markers Matches Methylcellulose Mineral oil† Modeling clay Newspaper Paint (water color or water-based) Perfumes Petroleum jelly Plant food (household) Polyethylene glycols, such aspolyethylene glycolstearate Polysorbate Putty Sachets (essential oils, powders) Shaving creams and lotions Silica (silicon dioxide) Soap and soap products (including hand soap) Spermaceti Starch and sizing Stearic acid Sunscreens Talc (except when inhaled) Titanium dioxide Toothpaste with or without fluoride Triacetin (glyceryl triacetate) Vitamins (children’s multiple with or without iron) Vitamins (multiple without iron) Wax or paraffin Zinc oxide Zirconium oxide * Almost any substance can be toxic if ingested in sufficient amounts. † Moderately viscous (thick) substances like oils and detergents are not toxic if ingested but can cause significant lung injury if they are inhaled or aspirated into the lungs. 