Chemical poisoning is a pathological condition caused by toxic effects on the body of products manufactured by industry or obtained in laboratory conditions. Intoxication is accompanied by severe symptoms and can lead to disability or even death. In order to avoid complications and deplorable consequences, you need to know how to provide first aid for chemical poisoning.
Types of Poisoning
Intoxication is one of the most common pathological conditions. The speed of development distinguishes:
- Acute - toxic effects occur within a few hours, characterized by pronounced specific symptoms.
- Chronic - develops with the constant ingress of toxins into the body in small quantities. This form of intoxication is dangerous due to the absence of symptoms.
Also poisoning with hazardous chemicals is divided into household, medical and professional. According to ICD-10, the basis of systematization is the type of product, the ingress of which into the body caused a toxic effect:
- Medicines, medicines (code according to ICD-10 X40-X44).
- Alcohol and its surrogates (X45).
- Gases and vaporous substances (X47).
- Pesticides (X48).
- Unspecified chemicals: household chemicals, some types of fertilizers and others (X49).
Causes of intoxication
The reasons why a chemical substance got into the body and caused poisoning can be very different. The main one is the misuse of products. There are also other causes of chemical poisoning:
- Accidental or intentional excess dosage of the product.
- Use of the substance by mistake or inattention.
- Failure to comply with the requirements specified in the instructions regarding the rules for the use of chemical products.
- Release of substances into the atmosphere as a result of an emergency or a man-made disaster.
- Official negligence.
- Ignoring safety precautions.
Chemical Poisoning: Symptoms
The clinical picture develops depending on the type and amount of poison that has entered the body. Acute intoxications can occur violently with violations leading to death, or slowly - with the gradual development of the symptom complex.
Due to the selectivity of the toxic effects of poisons, symptoms of damage to certain systems may prevail. In toxicology, it is customary to distinguish the main syndromes corresponding to disorders of the functions of these systems. Signs of chemical poisoning that are dangerous if the dosage is exceeded are:
- CNS: impaired consciousness, severe hyperreflexia, convulsive syndrome, dyskinesia, increased fatigue.
- Somatovegetative disorders: violation of thermoregulation, sweating, narrowing of the pupil.
- Respiratory: dyspnea, profuse sputum production. In severe poisoning, respiratory failure, atelectasis processes are observed.
- Cardiovascular system: increased blood pressure, circulatory failure, orthostatic collapse with loss of consciousness.
- Gastrointestinal tract: nausea, frequent vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding.
What to do with drug poisoning
The cause of drug intoxication is their use without a doctor's prescription. Medications primarily affect the nervous system. For chemical poisoning, medical attention should be provided as soon as possible. Pre-medical is to stop the use of drugs. It is also necessary to reduce the toxic effects of the following methods:
- Gastric lavage to clear water.
- The use of activated carbon allows you to absorb toxins and reduces their absorption in the digestive tract.
- Providing the patient with physical and emotional rest.
- In order to have good oxygen access, open windows and remove tight clothing.
- At high temperatures, wipe with a towel dipped in cool water.
Alcohol intoxication
Intoxication resulting from the use of ethanol with various impurities or other alcohols is called alcohol substitution poisoning. Usually observed in people with alcoholism. Surrogate poisoning also occurs in adolescents due to the inability to buy high-quality alcohol products. Alcohol intoxication is one of the most common types among all poisonings. It poses a great threat to life, about 90% of people with alcohol intoxication die before hospitalization.
The main signs of poisoning with chemicals (butyl, propyl alcohols, fusel oils) are:
- Repeated vomiting.
- Severe headaches.
- The appearance of flies, veiled before the eyes.
- Drowsiness.
- Nubulation.
- Increasing thirst.
- A sharp increase in blood pressure.
- Heart rhythm disturbance.
- Confusion.
In case of poisoning with surrogate alcohol, detoxification and symptomatic therapy is necessary:
- Gastric lavage with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
- The use of absorbent preparations: activated carbon, Smecta.
- To reduce the ingress of toxins into the blood, gastric contents are removed by artificially induced vomiting.
- In case of loss of consciousness, the patient is brought back to life, letting ammonia smell.
- With severe thirst, you can drink salted water, but in no case carbonated.
Pesticide poisoning assistance
Pesticides are drugs used to control pests and diseases of garden and garden plants. The toxicity of agricultural pesticides depends on the structure, physico-chemical properties, concentration and duration of exposure. In acute intoxication, the following symptoms are observed:
- Dizziness.
- Pain in the limbs.
- Nausea with vomiting.
- Violation of coordination of movements.
- In severe cases, shortness of breath, cramps, fever, coma.
Chronic intoxication is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Fatigue.
- Irritability.
- Pain in the heart and solar plexus.
- Lethargy.
- Often there is the development of gastritis, bronchitis.
In case of chemical poisoning, first aid is to prevent contact with pesticides. If agricultural poisons get on the skin, they are removed with a swab and washed off with soapy water. With eye irritation - wipe with a weak solution of baking soda. If it enters the stomach, it is washed with water and absorbents dissolved in it.
What to do in case of poisoning with household chemicals
The chemicalization of all sectors of the economy inevitably leads to an increase in contacts with chemicals. The main route of penetration of products that cause intoxication is the respiratory system, less commonly damaged skin. Substances get into the stomach when swallowing them from the lips, nasal mucosa, or from insufficiently washed hands.
The nature of the poisoning depends on the concentration and duration of exposure to chemical products. Also, the clinical picture is affected by the rate of neutralization and the sensitivity of the body to poisons. Symptoms of chemical poisoning:
- Pain in the eyes.
- Sore throat, with coughing up sputum.
- Bitter taste in the mouth.
- Respiratory failure.
- Burns of the mucous membranes and skin, burn pain.
- Cramping pains in the abdomen.
- Nausea, vomiting. With severe intoxication, a large amount of bile in the vomit is observed.
- Dizziness, constant headache.
First aid for chemical poisoning is as follows:
- Immediately call an emergency medical service.
- Rinse with water the mucous membranes of the nose, pharynx, skin of the face and hands.
- Take the victim out of the room where the poisonous substances, due to their physical characteristics, spread in the air (chlorine-containing substances, gasoline).
- In case of acid poisoning, give the victim a little milk.
- If the toxic effect is caused by alkali, give a tablespoon of vegetable oil.
Gas poisoning
A frequent reason for the ingress of domestic gas into the body in large quantities is the failure to comply with safety regulations. Depending on the clinical picture in toxicology, 3 degrees of poisoning are distinguished:
- Easy. It is characterized by suffocation, dizziness, general weakness. Symptoms disappear after cessation of toxic effects.
- Medium. It is characterized by a sharp severity of signs of poisoning. Symptoms (heart palpitations, impaired motor skills, prolonged vomiting) are eliminated after medical care, but the residual effects continue to bother for a few more days.
- Heavy. A severe clinical picture is observed: brain dysfunction, myocardial damage, convulsions. Subsequently, complications develop.
First aid in case of chemical poisoning consists in evacuating the victim from a dangerous place, providing an influx of fresh air, warming by shelter. Upon arrival, the ambulance performs resuscitation and hospitalizes the patient.
General principles of first aid for intoxication
Doctors should deal with the elimination of intoxication and the removal of poisons from the body. But to reduce the likelihood of complications and alleviate symptoms, a number of actions can be performed independently. First aid for chemical poisoning should be directed to the following:
- Accelerated elimination of poisons from the body.
- Urgent use of antidote therapy, which changes the metabolic processes of a toxic substance or reduces its toxic effect.
- Removal of severe symptoms.
Therapeutic measures
The way to treat chemical poisoning depends on the toxin, its concentration, exposure time and degree of damage to the body. The most commonly used methods are:
- Active detoxification is the first mandatory measure, which is carried out by washing the stomach. For accelerated elimination of toxins, forced diuresis is used using diuretics (Mannitolum) or saluretics (Furosemide).
- To purify the blood of toxins, hemosorption is used. In some cases, resort to blood transfusion.
- Antidote therapy is effective in the early toxicogenic phase, and only in acute poisoning and if the type of poison is known.
- The pain syndrome is eliminated by introducing a glucose-novocaine mixture into a vein.
- Intoxication psychoses stop with the help of antipsychotics, tranquilizers.
- To resume normal airway patency, impaired convulsive syndrome, "Seduxen" 2-4 ml.
- In all severe cases of respiratory failure, antibiotics are used (Penicillin and Streptomycin). With a burn of the upper respiratory tract and swelling of the larynx, a tracheostomy is urgently performed.
The prognosis depends on the severity of toxic damage, the characteristics of the body and the professionalism of doctors.
Complications
Long-term poisoning with chemicals or their high concentration often cause serious consequences:
- Toxic hepatitis.
- Toxic nephropathy.
- Esophagus burn.
- Pulmonary edema.
Prevention
The basis of poisoning warnings is care and caution:
- The use of drugs should be carried out as directed or after consulting a doctor.
- Only certified alcoholic products should be purchased and consumed.
- Before using household chemicals or pesticides, you must carefully read the instructions. Use products in protective equipment.
- A room with gas equipment should always be ventilated.