A distinction is made between acute and chronic poisoning. Acute poisoning occurs, for example, in drug overdoses, snakebites or the consumption of toxic substances.
The following types of poisoning are very common:
- Drug poisoning
- Poisoning with household chemicals such as dishwashing liquid, descaler or dishwashing liquid
- Consumption of poisonous plants (lily of the valley, privet, poinsettia)
- Food poisoning
- Mushroom poisoning
- Poisoning by cosmetics
- Smoke poisoning (fatal acute poisoning)
- Drug overdose (fatal acute poisoning)
- Bites or stings from venomous animals (adder, black widow and other venomous spiders, scorpion, etc.)
Toxicology is concerned with the nature of various poisons and their effects on health. There are various subfields of toxicology. These include:
Food Toxocology:It focuses on the substances in food and drinking water that are harmful to health. These may have a natural origin or may have been added by human action.
Toxicology is concerned with the nature of various poisons and their effects on health. There are various subfields of toxicology. These include:
Food Toxocology:It focuses on the substances in food and drinking water that are harmful to health. These may have a natural origin or may have been added by human action.
Act quickly in case of poisoning!
If poisoning is suspected, the emergency physician should be alerted immediately. Acute poisoning in particular can be immediately life-threatening. Fast help is then necessary. Some clinics offer a poison hotline where relatives can find out what to do until the emergency doctor arrives (first aid measures).
Toxicological screening
Antidote
Once the triggering toxin has been identified, appropriate therapy can be initiated. Especially in acute poisoning, the administration of an antidote can save lives. This is an antidote that can stop or at least slow down the action of the poison in the body. For some poisons, it is also possible to remove them from the blood and body depots using suitable substances.
