Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSignsTypesTreatmentPreventionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Signs
Types
Treatment
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
While poisoning can occur in children and adults, young children are most susceptible to ingesting poisons.They may also experience more severe symptoms due to their smaller body size.
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Childhood poisonings often occur as a result of accidental ingestion of household chemicals,while adult poisonings are usually drug-related and result from unintentional drug overdose.
This article describes common types of poisoning and how to treat them.
PrevalencePoisoning is a significant problem in the United States and is the leading cause of unintentional death, surpassing motor vehicle crashes.From 1999 to 2016, drug-poisoning death rates more than tripled, from 6.1 per 100,000 to 19.8 per 100,000 individuals.
Prevalence
Poisoning is a significant problem in the United States and is the leading cause of unintentional death, surpassing motor vehicle crashes.From 1999 to 2016, drug-poisoning death rates more than tripled, from 6.1 per 100,000 to 19.8 per 100,000 individuals.
The signs and symptoms of poisoning vary depending on the type of poison, how much poison was involved, and how the person was exposed. Signs and symptoms to be aware of include:
Common Types of Poisoning
The majority of poisonings are accidental and preventable. The five most common types of poisoning include food, carbon monoxide, household chemicals, alcohol, and drugs.
Food
Depending on the type of food poisoning, symptoms can range from mild to severe. Common symptoms include an upset stomach, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever.
Seek Immediate HelpIf you have or suspect food poisoning, seek immediate medical attention if you experience these severe symptoms:Bloody diarrhea or diarrhea that lasts more than three daysFrequent vomiting (which can lead to severe dehydration)High fever (temperature over 102 degrees, measured in your mouth)Signs of dehydration (very dry mouth or throat, little or no urination, or dizziness)
Seek Immediate Help
If you have or suspect food poisoning, seek immediate medical attention if you experience these severe symptoms:Bloody diarrhea or diarrhea that lasts more than three daysFrequent vomiting (which can lead to severe dehydration)High fever (temperature over 102 degrees, measured in your mouth)Signs of dehydration (very dry mouth or throat, little or no urination, or dizziness)
If you have or suspect food poisoning, seek immediate medical attention if you experience these severe symptoms:
Carbon Monoxide
CO easily enters the body through the lungs. When CO enters your bloodstream, it binds with greater affinity tohemoglobin(the protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen throughout the body) than oxygen. This prevents oxygen from getting to tissues and cells, which can lead to serious tissue damage, even death.
Approximately 50,000 people in the United States visit the emergency department each year due to accidental CO poisoning.The most commonsymptomsof CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. Serious complications such as brain, lung, and heart damage, and even death can occur.
Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Household Chemicals
Many household chemicals are poisonous, even if you are using them as directed. Household cleaners should also never be mixed, as they can create toxic gases.
For example,mixing bleach and ammoniaproduces chloramine gas, which can irritate the nose, throat, and lungs.In large concentrations, inhaling chloramine can lead to death.
Common household chemicals include antifreeze, motor oil, latex paint, batteries, all-purpose cleaners, bleach, pesticides, and more. Ingestion or inhalation of these chemicals can cause serious to life-threatening conditions, even death.
Call Poison ControlIf you think that you or a loved one has ingested household chemicals, don’t wait for signs that something is wrong. CallPoison Controlright away at800-222-1222.
Call Poison Control
If you think that you or a loved one has ingested household chemicals, don’t wait for signs that something is wrong. CallPoison Controlright away at800-222-1222.
Common Household Poisons
Alcohol
Alcohol poisoning occurs when large quantities of alcohol are ingested in a short period of time (binge drinking). This can lead to a wide range ofsymptomsand complications, including seizures,cyanosis(blue coloration due to lack of oxygen in the blood), andhypothermia(low body temperature).
Alcohol poisoning is a serious condition. A high percentage of blood alcohol can cause the areas of your brain that support breathing, heart rate, and other critical functions to begin shutting down.
Drugs
Drug poisoning (or drug overdose) is the most common type of poisoning in adults. It occurs when drugs are abused or taken in large amounts.
When some drugs such asTylenol (acetaminophen)are taken in too high of a dose, they can overwhelm the liver and render it unable to metabolize (break down) drugs. In doing so, drug poisoning can alter the way the liver functions, causing irrevocable liver damage or failure.
Excessive amounts of other drugs may damage various organ systems (such as the kidneys) or suppress functions such as breathing or blood circulation.
Depending on the type of poisoning you have, treatments will vary. It is essential that a healthcare provider properly assess the person to determine the correct treatment. Possible treatments that can be used to treat poisoning include:
In severe cases of CO poisoning,hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)may be used. This therapy involves breathing pure oxygen in a chamber with air pressure 2 to 3 times higher than normal.In doing so, it speeds the replacement of carbon monoxide with oxygen in your blood.
You can take steps to prevent accidental poisoning:
Summary
Poisons are substances that can cause harm when swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. Common types of poisoning include food, carbon monoxide, household chemicals, alcohol, and drugs.
While poison prevention can prevent long-term health effects or be lifesaving, several treatments are available to counteract the type of poisoning a person may have. These range from administering different medications to inhaling pure oxygen.
A Word From Verywell
Be ready to give complete information to the poison control center, including what the poison or substance is, how much was taken, and when it was taken. Additionally, do not try to induce vomiting, as that may cause more harm to your body.
Frequently Asked QuestionsAccording to the National Poison Data System, most unintentional poisoning deaths in the United States are attributable to misuse and abuse of analgesic drugs (painkillers).Depending on the type of poisoning, long-term effects of poisoning can include brain damage, kidney failure, cardiac complications, depression, miscarriages, and memory problems.The time it takes for poison symptoms to appear depends on the type of poisoning you have. Poison symptoms can appear within minutes to as long as a week.
According to the National Poison Data System, most unintentional poisoning deaths in the United States are attributable to misuse and abuse of analgesic drugs (painkillers).
Depending on the type of poisoning, long-term effects of poisoning can include brain damage, kidney failure, cardiac complications, depression, miscarriages, and memory problems.
The time it takes for poison symptoms to appear depends on the type of poisoning you have. Poison symptoms can appear within minutes to as long as a week.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Injuries and violence are leading causes of death.Saikia D, Sharma RK, Janardhan KV.Clinical profile of poisoning due to various poisons in children of age 0–12 years.Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care. 2020;9(5):2291-2296. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfpmc_365_20Jalal H, Buchanich JM, Roberts MS, Balmert LC, Zhang K, Burke DS.Changing dynamics of the drug overdose epidemic in the united states, 1979-2016.Science. 2018;361(6408):eaau1184. doi:10.1126/science.aau1184Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.NCHS data on drug poisoning deaths.American Academy of Family Physicians.Poisoning.Penn Medicine.What is carbon monoxide poisoning?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning prevention.Washington State Department of Health.Dangers of Mixing Bleach With Cleaners.Gallagher N, Edwards FJ.The diagnosis and management of toxic alcohol poisoning in the emergency department: a review article.Advanced Journal of Emerging Medicine. 2019;3(3):e28. doi:10.22114/ajem.v0i0.153National Health Service.Symptoms: poisoning.Zellner T, Prasa D, Färber E, Hoffmann-Walbeck P, Genser D, Eyer F.The use of activated charcoal to treat intoxications.Deutsches Arzteblatt International. 2019;116(18):311-317. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2019.0311National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for food poisoning.Eichhorn L, Thudium M, Jüttner B.The diagnosis and treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning.Deutsches Arzteblatt International. 2018;115(51-52):863-870. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0863Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About moderate alcohol use.Environmental Protection Agency.Where should I place a carbon monoxide detector?America’s Poison Centers.National Poison Data System.
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Injuries and violence are leading causes of death.Saikia D, Sharma RK, Janardhan KV.Clinical profile of poisoning due to various poisons in children of age 0–12 years.Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care. 2020;9(5):2291-2296. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfpmc_365_20Jalal H, Buchanich JM, Roberts MS, Balmert LC, Zhang K, Burke DS.Changing dynamics of the drug overdose epidemic in the united states, 1979-2016.Science. 2018;361(6408):eaau1184. doi:10.1126/science.aau1184Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.NCHS data on drug poisoning deaths.American Academy of Family Physicians.Poisoning.Penn Medicine.What is carbon monoxide poisoning?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning prevention.Washington State Department of Health.Dangers of Mixing Bleach With Cleaners.Gallagher N, Edwards FJ.The diagnosis and management of toxic alcohol poisoning in the emergency department: a review article.Advanced Journal of Emerging Medicine. 2019;3(3):e28. doi:10.22114/ajem.v0i0.153National Health Service.Symptoms: poisoning.Zellner T, Prasa D, Färber E, Hoffmann-Walbeck P, Genser D, Eyer F.The use of activated charcoal to treat intoxications.Deutsches Arzteblatt International. 2019;116(18):311-317. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2019.0311National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for food poisoning.Eichhorn L, Thudium M, Jüttner B.The diagnosis and treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning.Deutsches Arzteblatt International. 2018;115(51-52):863-870. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0863Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About moderate alcohol use.Environmental Protection Agency.Where should I place a carbon monoxide detector?America’s Poison Centers.National Poison Data System.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Injuries and violence are leading causes of death.Saikia D, Sharma RK, Janardhan KV.Clinical profile of poisoning due to various poisons in children of age 0–12 years.Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care. 2020;9(5):2291-2296. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfpmc_365_20Jalal H, Buchanich JM, Roberts MS, Balmert LC, Zhang K, Burke DS.Changing dynamics of the drug overdose epidemic in the united states, 1979-2016.Science. 2018;361(6408):eaau1184. doi:10.1126/science.aau1184Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.NCHS data on drug poisoning deaths.American Academy of Family Physicians.Poisoning.Penn Medicine.What is carbon monoxide poisoning?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning prevention.Washington State Department of Health.Dangers of Mixing Bleach With Cleaners.Gallagher N, Edwards FJ.The diagnosis and management of toxic alcohol poisoning in the emergency department: a review article.Advanced Journal of Emerging Medicine. 2019;3(3):e28. doi:10.22114/ajem.v0i0.153National Health Service.Symptoms: poisoning.Zellner T, Prasa D, Färber E, Hoffmann-Walbeck P, Genser D, Eyer F.The use of activated charcoal to treat intoxications.Deutsches Arzteblatt International. 2019;116(18):311-317. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2019.0311National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for food poisoning.Eichhorn L, Thudium M, Jüttner B.The diagnosis and treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning.Deutsches Arzteblatt International. 2018;115(51-52):863-870. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0863Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About moderate alcohol use.Environmental Protection Agency.Where should I place a carbon monoxide detector?America’s Poison Centers.National Poison Data System.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Injuries and violence are leading causes of death.
Saikia D, Sharma RK, Janardhan KV.Clinical profile of poisoning due to various poisons in children of age 0–12 years.Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care. 2020;9(5):2291-2296. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfpmc_365_20
Jalal H, Buchanich JM, Roberts MS, Balmert LC, Zhang K, Burke DS.Changing dynamics of the drug overdose epidemic in the united states, 1979-2016.Science. 2018;361(6408):eaau1184. doi:10.1126/science.aau1184
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.NCHS data on drug poisoning deaths.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Poisoning.
Penn Medicine.What is carbon monoxide poisoning?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning prevention.
Washington State Department of Health.Dangers of Mixing Bleach With Cleaners.
Gallagher N, Edwards FJ.The diagnosis and management of toxic alcohol poisoning in the emergency department: a review article.Advanced Journal of Emerging Medicine. 2019;3(3):e28. doi:10.22114/ajem.v0i0.153
National Health Service.Symptoms: poisoning.
Zellner T, Prasa D, Färber E, Hoffmann-Walbeck P, Genser D, Eyer F.The use of activated charcoal to treat intoxications.Deutsches Arzteblatt International. 2019;116(18):311-317. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2019.0311
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for food poisoning.
Eichhorn L, Thudium M, Jüttner B.The diagnosis and treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning.Deutsches Arzteblatt International. 2018;115(51-52):863-870. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0863
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About moderate alcohol use.
Environmental Protection Agency.Where should I place a carbon monoxide detector?
America’s Poison Centers.National Poison Data System.
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