Clinical toxicology studies the toxic effects of drugs and chemicals on the body, focusing on short- and long-term exposure. Clinical toxicologists identify, diagnose, and treat conditions resulting from exposure to harmful agents. Factors such as dose, route of exposure, and duration of exposure can influence toxic effects. Drug-related emergencies require lab work to identify the drug that caused the poisoning. Common drugs that result in poisoning include paracetamol, salicylate, tricyclic antidepressant, and phenothiazine.
Toxicology is the science of poison and its effects on living organisms. There are several divisions of toxicology, one of which is clinical toxicology. Clinical toxicology is the study of the toxic or adverse effects of agents, such as drugs and chemicals, in the body. Most of these agents are usually given to individuals to relieve symptoms or to treat and prevent disease.
Clinical toxicology focuses on diseases associated with short- and long-term exposure to various toxic chemicals. It generally coincides with other sciences such as biochemistry, pharmacology and pathology. Biochemistry is the study of the chemical processes going on in the body. Pharmacology deals with the study of the actions of drugs in the body and pathology is the study of disease and its diagnosis through the examination of body tissues and fluids.
Individuals who specialize in clinical toxicology are referred to as clinical toxicologists. Their work focuses on the identification, diagnosis and treatment of conditions resulting from exposure to harmful agents. They usually study the toxic effects of various drugs in the body, and are also engaged in the treatment and prevention of drug toxicity in the population.
Several factors can influence the toxic effect of a given substance. One is the amount or dose of drug administered. Most chemicals, including water and oxygen, are often harmful to the body when taken in large doses. Another factor is the route through which a person was exposed. A person can be exposed to various substances through ingestion, inhalation and skin penetration. The duration of exposure is also a vital factor in the effect of toxic substances in the body.
There are approximately 100,000 hospital admissions per year for poisoning. The most common drugs that have resulted in poisoning are paracetamol, salicylate, tricyclic antidepressant and phenothiazine. An acetaminophen is an over-the-counter drug often used to relieve fever and pain. Salicylate is another drug for fever, muscle aches and inflammation. Tricyclic antidepressant is for the treatment of depression and phenothiazine is also used to treat emotional and mental problems.
Included within the scope of clinical toxicology is the determination of the factors that usually lead to drug overdose and poisoning. These factors include the patient’s misuse of prescribed medications, overprescribing of medications, and inattentiveness to medication warnings. The drugs can also interact with other drugs the patient is taking. Allergic reactions can also occur in predisposed individuals.
Drug-related emergencies often require lab work to identify the drug that caused the poisoning. Blood is usually drawn from the patient to test measurements of arterial blood gas, urea, electrolytes, and glucose, among many others. A urine test is also often done.
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