Intoxication is the set of signs and symptoms that arise from exposure to chemicals that are toxic to the body, such as overdose medicines, poisonous animal bites, heavy metals such as lead and mercury, or exposure to insecticides and pesticides.
Intoxication is a form of poisoning and, therefore, it can cause local reactions, such as redness and pain in the skin, or more generalized, such as vomiting, fever, intense sweating, convulsions, coma and, even, risk of death. Thus, in the presence of signs and symptoms that may lead to suspicion of this problem, it is very important to go to the emergency room quickly, so that the treatment is done, with gastric lavage, use of drugs or antidotes, prescribed by the doctor.
Types of poisoning
There are two main types of poisoning, such as:
- Exogenous intoxication: happens when the intoxicating substance is in the environment, capable of contaminating through ingestion, contact with the skin or inhalation through the air. The most common are the use of medications in high doses, such as antidepressants, analgesics, anticonvulsants or anxiolytics, use of illicit drugs, bite of poisonous animals, such as snake or scorpion, excessive alcohol consumption or inhalation of chemicals, for example; Endogenous intoxication: it is caused by the accumulation of harmful substances that the body itself produces, such as urea, but which are usually eliminated through the action of the liver and filtering through the kidneys, and can be accumulated when these organs are deficient.
In addition, intoxication can be acute, when it causes signs and symptoms after a single contact with the substance, or chronic, when its signs are felt after accumulation of the substance in the body, consumed for a long time, as in the case of intoxications caused by drugs such as Digoxin and Amplictil, for example, or by metals, such as lead and mercury.
Gastroenteritis, also known as food poisoning, occurs due to the presence of microorganisms, such as viruses and bacteria, or their toxins, in foods, especially when poorly preserved, causing nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. To learn more about this situation, see how to identify and treat food poisoning.
Main symptoms
As there are several types of toxic substances, there are a wide variety of signs and symptoms that can indicate intoxication, and some of the main ones are:
- Fast or slow heartbeat; Increase or decrease in blood pressure; Increase or decrease in the diameter of the pupils; Intense sweating; Redness or skin wounds; Visual changes such as blurring, clouding or darkening; Shortness of breath; Vomiting; Diarrhea; Abdominal pain; Drowsiness; Hallucination and delirium; Retention or urinary and fecal incontinence; Slowing and difficulty making movements.
Thus, the type, intensity and amount of intoxication symptoms vary according to the type of toxic substance that is ingested, the amount and physical state of the person who ingested it. In addition, children and the elderly are more sensitive to poisoning.
First aid for poisoning
The first aid measures to be taken in case of poisoning include:
- Call SAMU 192 immediately to ask for help and then to the Anti-Poison Information Center (CIAVE) , on 0800 284 4343, to receive guidance from professionals while medical assistance arrives; Remove the toxic agent, washing with water if it is in contact with the skin, or changing the environment if it is inhaled; Keep the victim lying in a lateral position, in case he loses consciousness; Look for information about the substance that caused the intoxication, if possible, such as checking a medicine box, product containers or the presence of poisonous animals nearby, to help inform the medical staff.
Avoid giving liquids to drink or causing vomiting, especially if the substance ingested is unknown, acidic or corrosive, as this can worsen the effects of the substance on the digestive tract. To learn more about what to do in case of intoxication or poisoning, check out first aid for poisoning.
How the treatment is done
The treatment for intoxication varies according to its cause and the clinical condition of the person, and can be started already in the ambulance or when arriving at the emergency room, by the medical team, and involves:
- Evaluation of vital signs, such as pressure, heartbeat and blood oxygenation, and stabilization, with hydration or use of oxygen, for example, if necessary; Identify the causes of intoxication by analyzing the victim's medical history, symptoms and physical examination; Decontamination, which aims to decrease the body's exposure to the toxic substance, through measures such as gastric lavage, with irrigation of saline through a nasogastric tube, administration of activated carbon in the digestive tract to facilitate the absorption of the toxic agent, or intestinal lavage, with laxatives, such as mannitol; Use an antidote, if any, that can be specific to each type of substance. Some of the most used antidotes are:
| Antidote | Intoxicating agent |
| Acetylcysteine | Paracetamol |
| Atropine | Organophosphate and carbamate insecticides, such as Chumbinho; |
| Methylene blue | Substances called methemoglobinizers, which prevent blood oxygenation, such as nitrates, exhaust gases, naphthalene and some medications, such as chloroquine and lidocaine, for example; |
| BAL or dimercaprol | Some heavy metals, such as arsenic and gold; |
| EDTA-calcium | Some heavy metals, such as lead; |
| Flumazenil | Benzodiazepine drugs, such as Diazepam or Clonazepam, for example; |
| Naloxone | Opioid analgesics, such as Morphine or Codeine, for example |
|
Anti-scorpion, anti-acid or anti-arachnid serum |
Poisonous scorpion, snake or spider bites; |
| Vitamin K | Pesticides or anticoagulant drugs, such as warfarin. |
In addition, to avoid any type of intoxication, it is important to pay attention to products that come into contact on a daily basis, especially people who work with chemicals, such as in factories or plantations, and the use of protective equipment is essential. individual.
Special attention should also be given to children, who are more likely to contact or accidentally ingest intoxicating products and to suffer domestic accidents. Also, check out what are the first aid measures for other more common domestic accidents.
