HOUSEHOLD CLASSIFIC OTHER TOXIC PRINCIPAL SIGNS & SYMPTOMS TREATMENT ANTIDOTES

POISONS ATION NAMES DOSE/ MANIFEST

LEVELS ATION
BROMATES Cosmetics 4 g, or 100 vomiting INGESTION: Emergency measures: Give sodium
- as neutralizers ml of a 3% collapse Vomiting, diarrhea, Remove poison by gastric lavage thiosulfate, 0.1–1
in cold waves solution abdominal pain, or emesis). The gastric lavage or ml/kg
oliguria or anuria, emetic should contain 30–50 g of intravenously as a
lethargy, deafness, sodium bicarbonate and 50 g of 10% solution.
coma. Cyanosis due to sodium thiosulfate for each liter of
methemoglobinemia water. At the end of gastric lavage
and hematuria due to give 15 ml of Fleet’s Phospho-
hemolysis may occur Soda or 10 g of sodium sulfate in
as late reactions. 200 ml of the sodium
bicarbonate–sodium thiosulfate
solution.
The prompt use of peritoneal
dialysis or of hemodialysis has
also been suggested.

General measures:
(1) Relieve gastric irritation by
giving milk or cream every hour.
(2) In the presence of cyanosis
and respiratory difficulty, give O2.
If methemoglobin level is above
30% give methylene blue
cautiously, beginning with half the
usual amount.
(3) Treat dehydration by giving
5% dextrose in water. Use caution
in the administration of
electrolytes, depending on the
state of kidney function.
DEMULCENTS Cosmetics
AND
PROTECTIVES
-Many non-toxic
compounds are
used as skin
protectives, as
skin softeners,
and as
ingredients in
cosmetics
BOTULISM Food 0.1 ml vomiting, Emergency measures: Give type ABE
poisoning double (1) Immediately upon suspecting botulinus antitoxin
vision, and food poisoning, and if the patient unless type A or
muscular is asymptomatic, remove the toxin type B has been
paralysis by emesis. Otherwise, use identified and type
airway-protected gastric lavage. AB antitoxin can
Follow by catharsis with Fleet’s be used.
Phospho-Soda, 30–60 ml diluted
1:4, unless the patient has
diarrhea.
(2) Draw blood for toxin
determination in serum.
(3) Notify the local health
department.

General measures:
Treat respiratory depression.
Artificial respiration or assissted
ventilation may be necessary to
oxygenate the patient during the
period of weakness. Pre- vent
pulmonary aspiration by aseptic
tracheal cleansing. If pneumonia
develops treat with organism-
specific chemotherapy.
BACTERIAL Food vomiting Nausea and vomiting, Emergency measures:
FOOD poisoning and diarrhea, abdominal Control severe vomiting by
POISONING diarrhea cramps or pain, and administration of chlorpromazine
weakness occur; the (Thorazine), 25–100 mg rectally
incubation period or intramuscularly, or other anti-
varies depending on emetic. Repeat every 4 h as
the organisms necessary.

General measures:
Place the patient at bed rest and
give nothing by mouth until
vomiting has sub- sided for 4
hours. Then give oral fluids as
tolerated for 12–24 h before
beginning regular diet. If vomiting
and diarrhea are severe, maintain
fluid balance by giving 5%
dextrose in saline intravenously.
Diarrhea is self-limited and should
not be suppressed.
Ciguatera SEAFOOD Symptoms If presents within 3 h after
- Sources: POISONIN • Appear within 6 h ingestion, gastric lavage followed
barracuda, G and not every person by activated charcoal.
grouper, jack, will necessarily be If presents later, supportive.
moray eel, similarly affected For 3–6 months after the acute
mullet, • Gastrointestinal: illness, patients should avoid fish,
parrotfish, vomiting, watery nuts, nut oils and alcohol, as
porgy, snapper, diarrhea, abdominal these agents are thought to
surgeonfish, cramps are usually not exacerbate the ciguatera
triggerfish, serious and self-limited syndrome. (expert opinion)
wrasse. Odd neurologic Subsequent reactions to ciguatera
symptoms can appear tend to be more severe than the
early or after the original.
gastrointestinal effects
resolve.
• Sensory tingling in
lips and extremities
that do not follow a
dermatomal pattern
• Perception of loose
teeth or dental pain
• Distortion of
temperature
perception
Scombroid Symptoms
poisoning • Usually causes a
histamine-like reaction
(flushing, headache,
burning sensation,
dizziness, sunburn
appearance to skin)
and can be mistaken
for an allergy. Usually
does not cause
urticaria.
• May cause
gastrointestinal
symptoms, such as
nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea.
• May occur within
minutes to hours after
consuming.
• Normally resolves on
its own, but treatment
with anti-histamines, H
blockers such as
 cimetidine are helpful.
Paralytic Symptoms: Early recognition of the poisoning.
shellfish • Usually occur within Gastric lavage, activated
poisoning 30 min after ingestion. charcoal, respiratory support and
• Are primarily mechanical ventilation. Protect
neurologic with form aspiration pneumonia.
paresthesias,
headache, ataxia,
vertigo, cranial nerve
dysfunction, muscle
weakness.
• Occasionally
gastrointestinal
symptoms occur.
• Mortality 8–9% due
to respiratory failure.
• If a patient survives
the first 12–18 h after
ingestion, relatively
good chance for
recovery.
BLEACHING Miscellaneo 3–6% severe Emergency measures:
PRODUCTS us sodium irritation (1) Remove bleaching solution
(Clorox, Purex, chemicals hypochorite with from the skin by flooding with
Sani-Clor) vomiting water.
(2) Dilute and decompose
swallowed bleaching solution by
giving milk, melted ice cream, or
beaten eggs. Antacids such as
milk of magnesia or aluminum
hydroxide gel are also useful. Do
not use emesis, lavage, or acid
antidotes.
(3) Treat chloramine-T poisoning
with nitrite and thiososulfate
administration as for cyanide.

General measures:
Treat as for esophageal lesions
due to sodium hydroxide
poisoning
SOAPS AND Miscellaneo
DETERGENTS us
chemicals