Poisoning symptoms vary depending on the substance, amount, and exposure time. Common symptoms include headaches, breathing problems, nausea, vomiting, and chemical burns. Symptoms can be mild, moderate, or severe, with severe cases potentially leading to death. Inducing vomiting is not recommended without medical advice, and skin/eye poisoning should be rinsed with warm water. Most poisonings occur at home from household chemicals, cosmetics, plant foods, and poor ventilation.
Symptoms of poisoning vary with the type of substance, the amount ingested, and the length of time that elapses after exposure, but some symptoms are typical. They include headaches and breathing problems if toxic fumes are inhaled. If swallowed, the most common symptoms of poisoning include nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps. Chemical burns can also appear in the mouth and throat; if the venom gets on your skin or eyes, it could cause a burning sensation. Other common poisoning symptoms include drowsiness, confusion and irritability which can lead to seizures or loss of consciousness.
Poisoning symptoms can be mild, moderate, or severe. Mild symptoms usually manifest as weakness and fatigue, with or without abnormal sweating. A poisoning victim may lose his appetite and begin to lose weight, and may experience vomiting or nausea. Episodes of dizziness may develop, along with mood swings or restlessness. These poisoning symptoms typically occur when small amounts of a toxic substance build up in the body over time.
When poisoning is considered moderate, nausea may become more pronounced and be accompanied by diarrhea with painful abdominal cramps. The muscles may twitch and feel weak, with complete loss of muscle control in some cases. Patients experiencing moderate poisoning symptoms may also sweat profusely or drool. Breathing may become difficult and a cough may develop.
Severe envenomation can produce muscle spasms and difficulty breathing. Sometimes the patient’s pupils appear as tiny dots. In extreme situations, severe poisoning symptoms include seizures, convulsions, and loss of consciousness that could lead to death if left untreated.
Vomiting should not be induced after a poison has been ingested unless a doctor or poison control center recommends it. Some caustic chemicals may cause further damage when purging, including any petroleum products. Ipecac syrup will cause vomiting where it is recommended, usually within 15 minutes. Ipecac should be followed by plenty of water or juice.
Skin or eye poisoning should be rinsed with plenty of water as soon as possible. The water should be warm and not hot. For chemical burns on the skin, salves and ointments are not recommended as they may make the condition worse.
Almost all poisonings occur in the home. Chemicals added to household cleaners, cosmetics and plant foods can be toxic. Some houseplants also cause poisoning symptoms if they are eaten. Inhalation poisoning is possible when using paint thinner or similar chemicals in a room without proper ventilation.
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