Copper poisoning belongs to the category of heavy metal poisoning. A distinction is made between whether it is acute or, for example, chronic. It is important that medical help is noticed immediately at the first signs.
What is copper poisoning?
In the context of heavy metal poisoning, so-called toxic metals penetrate directly into the organism, which subsequently trigger poisoning effects. This includes copper poisoning. But also other metals like nickel, iron, zinc and arsenic belong to the category of heavy metals and cause poisoning accordingly. Of course, copper is necessary in small amounts for the organism to remain viable. However, if a significantly increased copper dosage is present, poisoning occurs as a further consequence. Compared to aluminum, mercury or cadmium, poisoning does not occur immediately with an increased copper dose; however, with the previously mentioned metals, a small amount is sufficient for poisoning to occur.
Causes
There are many causes of copper poisoning. For example, the copper can occur through direct ingestion; sometimes, however, toxic substances can also escape, which can subsequently lead to a corresponding poisoning. A classic trigger is copper-contaminated drinking water. Old copper pipes in particular are often responsible for traces of the heavy metal getting into the drinking water, so that poisoning subsequently occurs.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
The affected person complains of various symptoms that can occur in the context of copper poisoning. Classical are disturbances of consciousness, whereby here predominantly a drowsiness is complained of. The affected person reports an inner restlessness, is tense and also has enormous concentration difficulties. The affected person subsequently suffers from anxiety disorders and has problems with his memory], so that physicians – in the context of copper poisoning – repeatedly speak of memory disorders. Furthermore, sweating, blood pressure fluctuations and also cardiac arrhythmias occur. In many cases, skin rashes are documented; sometimes allergic reactions also occur. In the case of copper poisoning, the affected person also complains of nausea and vomiting.
Diagnosis and course of the disease
Copper poisoning can involve either an acute or very sudden course. Of course, the course of the disease depends on how high the copper was dosed or what amount is present in the body. In a few cases, the dosage is so close to the limit that the patient does not always complain of the above symptoms. Often, however, the limits are exceeded to such an extent that all the symptoms become a permanent condition, which can sometimes affect the patient’s health and life. The physician must therefore detect the copper in the body of the affected person. To do this, he uses modern diagnostic methods and employs special procedures. Often a description of the symptoms is sufficient, so that the physician already has a suspicion that it is copper poisoning. The problem with poisoning, however, is that the symptoms are protracted and also sometimes occur non-specifically. So, of course, it is not impossible that the medical professional also makes a wrong diagnosis. Often also when the medical professional – due to the different symptoms – is sent on the wrong “track”.
Complications
A fatty liver can become inflamed, and if left untreated, this acute form of hepatitis often progresses to a chronic form. This also increases the risk of developing cirrhosis (shrunken liver) or liver cancer. Complications of cirrhosis often include varicose veins in the esophagus, which can rupture and cause severe bleeding. Water often accumulates in the abdomen (ascites), and brain function can also be impaired (hepatic encephalopathy). If cirrhosis of the liver is detected early, secondary diseases can be avoided in many cases or their occurrence can be delayed. Without therapy, the disease leads to liver failure. Jaundice, severe weight loss, nausea and upper abdominal pain are evident in the advanced stages of liver cancer.If the organ can no longer adequately fulfill its detoxification function, toxins enter the brain and damage the brain cells, which becomes noticeable through impaired consciousness and personality changes. In the worst case, the gradual poisoning of the body leads to hepatic coma or kidney failure. As another complication of liver cancer, metastases can form in other organs or the skeletal system. Some autoimmune liver diseases are associated with inflammation of the bile ducts, as a result of which bile duct carcinoma may develop. Surgical removal of part of the damaged liver carries the risk of rebleeding or infection. Liver transplantation may be followed by rejection, thrombosis, or narrowing of the bile ducts.
When should you see a doctor?
If health complaints are noticed after food or fluid intake, a doctor must be consulted. People who experience acute impairment of well-being after consuming tap water are particularly at risk. Often in these cases, copper pipes are installed in which the tap water is transported. If there is a feeling of drowsiness, disturbances in concentration, inner restlessness or a drop in performance level, a doctor is needed. Changes in the appearance of the skin, rashes, itching or redness are indications that need to be clarified by a doctor. If the symptoms increase gradually over several weeks, a doctor should be consulted. If there are fluctuations in blood pressure, disturbances in heart rhythm, a general feeling of illness or internal weakness, a doctor should be consulted. If problems with memory arise, or if the affected person experiences anxiety attacks or sudden sweating, he or she needs medical care. Signs such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue or exhaustion should be examined and treated by a doctor if they occur repeatedly over several days. If the symptoms are severe, a visit to the doctor is advised immediately. In severe cases, mental disorders, respiratory diseases or organ damage may occur. A doctor should therefore be consulted in good time in the event of persistent mood swings, respiratory problems or functional disorders.
Treatment and therapy
In conventional medicine, heavy metal poisoning enjoys a very high status. Especially copper poisoning is one of the most common heavy metal poisoning, so that here a lot of attention is paid to ensure that it comes to a correct diagnosis and then to a promising treatment. However, there are already numerous alternative medical treatments that also specialize in heavy metal or copper poisoning. Currently, there are various forms of therapy in the context of copper poisoning, which are mainly carried out when there is a clear diagnosis. It is important that the physician is sure that the heavy metal poisoning is copper and that no other disease is present, which is sometimes responsible for the symptoms. If there is no other suspected disease, but the physician is convinced that the poisoning is caused by copper, the chelation treatment is applied. This treatment ensures that the copper – and also other heavy metals – are bound in the body by DMPS and EDTA. Furthermore, chelation is one of the gentlest treatments that can be carried out in the treatment of copper poisoning. Care is taken to ensure that the treatment “channels” the copper out of the body. If, for example, there is an acute poisoning, the treatment must be carried out quite quickly. This is because the physician must ensure that all vital organs remain stable and that there is no danger to life. In the course of chelation treatment, oral antidotes are also administered. Sometimes activated charcoal can also be administered; antidotes and activated charcoal belong to the so-called absorption agents. Subsequently, the physicians also perform gastric lavage. Sometimes, however, blood washing can also lead to the copper being “flushed out”. The so-called hemoperfusion can be compared with the dialysis procedure; the principle of “blood purification” is effectively the same as in dialysis.
Outlook and prognosis
Copper poisoning must be treated promptly. If left untreated, the condition can lead to organ diseases such as cirrhosis of the liver and tubular kidney disorders.If heavy metal poisoning is treated comprehensively, the prognosis is generally good. The copper can be flushed out with the aid of suitable drugs. Any complaints such as itchy skin or leukocytosis can be treated symptomatically. The patient should be fit again after a few weeks. Quality of life is not affected by a short-term excess of copper in the body. Life expectancy is also not reduced. If copper poisoning is detected too late, chronic diseases may already have developed. The prospect of a complete recovery is then no longer given. In the case of liver, kidney and heart diseases, permanent drug treatment is necessary. In addition, psychological complaints such as chronic exhaustion or mood swings may develop, which additionally impair well-being. If there is a genetic disposition, an excess of heavy metal favors the development of autism and schizophrenia. A predisposition to copper excess, such as exists in epigenetic disorders, can usually only be treated symptomatically. Patients require close medical monitoring so that any symptoms can be treated early.
Prevention
Copper poisoning can usually be prevented. It is important that the absorption of the heavy metal is omitted or one should pay attention to the fact that – if in the own house copper pipes are laid – those are renewed. So one can assume to prevent a copper poisoning.
Aftercare
Aftercare is mainly aimed at preventing recurrence of the disease. In the case of copper poisoning, the patient bears the responsibility for this because the risk stems from his or her daily life. He should take care not to ingest the heavy metal through food. Copper pipes laid in the house often pose a risk if drinking water is drunk from them. These should be replaced as a precaution. A doctor will impart appropriate knowledge as part of initial treatment. However, the responsibility for implementing the advice lies with the patient. If copper poisoning was diagnosed late, chronic secondary diseases have usually developed. These must be treated as part of follow-up care. The patient may need support in his or her daily life. The type of scheduled follow-up depends on the symptoms. Medications are regularly administered to alleviate the condition. Damage to the kidneys or liver will result in recurrent imaging examinations. Long-term psychological damage can also result from copper poisoning. Psychotherapy provides relief in this case. Complications can be eliminated by starting treatment early. Complaints then exist only for a short time. Since there are no longer any signs of copper poisoning, follow-up care is no longer necessary in this case. The patient can go on with his or her regular life.
What you can do yourself
If copper poisoning is suspected, the first step is to alert poison control or emergency medical services. First aid must be administered until medical help arrives. The affected person should therefore be immobilized and well observed – resuscitation measures may have to be performed if breathing or circulation problems occur. Once the medical professional arrives, he or she must be informed of the circumstances of the poisoning. Since copper poisoning usually develops over a longer period of time before it leads to collapse, clarification in hospital is necessary in any case. Afterwards, the affected person should take it easy. Depending on what the doctor suggests, the diet should also be changed. Laxative foods can promote the flushing out of copper residues, but medicinal preparations are more effective. In general, attention should be paid to a gentle diet. Accompanying this, the trigger for the poisoning must be determined. The tap water at the place of residence is best subjected to a test. If there is a concrete suspicion, certain foods can be taken to the laboratory, where the copper content is measured. In any case, reintroduction of large amounts of copper must be avoided.
