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Poisoning with drinking and sea water: signs that do

 
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 18.10.2021
 
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The use of clean water is a vital necessity for any living being. Without water, man can not exist. But sometimes water can carry a danger - for example, if an unsuitable or microbially contaminated liquid was used for drinking. Poisoning with water is not uncommon, because we use different water sources that do not always correspond to sanitary standards. Often, even ordinary tap water can damage our health. Waterway transmission disease, water poisoning - this is the topic of the material below.

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Epidemiology

According to information from the World Health Organization, the total number of poisonings in the world is increasing every year. It is rather difficult to clearly characterize the information on the frequency of poisoning with water, as only a few countries calculate and systematize data on such cases. Much more information is known about foodborne infections.

There is also information that the bulk of poisoning is due to inaccuracy and carelessness rights. In most cases, the victims ignored the implementation of sanitary and hygienic standards, used water from unverified sources, etc.

The most massive water poisoning in recent years has occurred in Makhachkala: nearly six hundred people were hospitalized for six days, including more than 400 children. It was recognized that the reason for such a mass poisoning was the insufficient degree of chlorination of water.

In all likelihood, the statistics of water poisoning will continue to remain unknown - experts attribute this to weak monitoring and registration of real cases of poisoning of the population of Asia, African and Latin American countries, etc.

trusted-source[2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12]

Causes of the poisoning with water

Signs of poisoning arise if, together with water, a staphylococcal or streptococcal infection, cholera vibrio or protaeus, intestinal or dysenteric rod, enterovirus or other pathogens penetrate the human digestive system. In most cases, the reason for intoxication is the drinking of water, which is not intended for internal use - for example, it can easily be poisoned with water taken from open sources or even from a common water supply system. Microbes also often infect such water that has been in a tank for a long time, both open and closed.

Many cases of poisoning with water are associated with the use of one cup and healthy, and sick people.

However, the causes of water poisoning are not always identified with infectious diseases. Often, poisoning occurs due to the ingress of various chemical compounds, fertilizers, impurities and waste.

trusted-source[13], [14], [15], [16], [17]

Risk factors

Poisoning by water can happen to absolutely anyone, regardless of age and type of activity. However, people who belong to the following categories have the highest risk of water poisoning:

  • small children, breast and preschool age;
  • old men;
  • people suffering from chronic diseases of the digestive system, diabetes mellitus;
  • people with weak immune defense;
  • people who often visit other countries, especially exotic ones, where insufficient attention is paid to the implementation of sanitary and hygienic standards.

Also under threat of poisoning are workers of the chemical industry, oil refineries, as well as people living near sewage treatment plants, settling tanks, dumps, large industrial facilities.

trusted-source[18], [19], [20], [21], [22], [23]

Pathogenesis

Poisoning with water can occur when you get into the body of all sorts of pathogens, or toxic components (such as chemicals). Each poison agent specifically affects the tissues and the entire human body. There are various pathological changes that require appropriate medical manipulations - and of an emergency nature.

The causative agents of water poisoning are capable of producing toxic substances, both in water and already in the human body. When toxins get into the water inward, the mucous tissue of the digestive system gets hit first. This is manifested by all signs of inflammation. There are abdominal pains, diarrhea, vomiting. When toxins enter the bloodstream, general intoxication develops, with a number of typical symptoms for this condition: headache, fever, tachycardia, etc.

Poisoning with water can also be one of the options for hyperhydration - excessive fluid intake into the body, in which the water-electrolyte balance is disturbed.

trusted-source[24], [25], [26], [27], [28], [29], [30], [31]

Symptoms of the poisoning with water

Ordinary clean water can not cause poisoning. Intoxication occurs with the use of dissolved chemical impurities, elements, as well as liquids infected with pathogenic microorganisms. Do not be ruled out and the possibility of poisoning with water, if it was used in excess - more than one liter per hour. It is this volume of water that can process the kidneys. All the excess moisture immediately will accumulate in the tissues.

The first signs of poisoning with water depend on the reasons for the poisoning. At the initial stage, such symptoms can be general, nonspecific:

  • single or multiple vomiting, nausea;
  • diarrhea;
  • spastic or persistent pain inside the abdomen;
  • increase in body temperature;
  • pain in the head, dizziness;
  • signs of general intoxication.

Next, we will examine each cause and clinical picture of water poisoning separately.

  • Poisoning with sea water is accompanied by symptoms such as weakness, loss of appetite, nausea before vomiting, unpleasant sensations in the nasopharynx, sneezing. Depending on the volume of sea water drunk, it is possible to reduce the amount of excreted urine, defecation with liquid masses. As a rule, sea water rarely causes poisoning precisely by the type of intoxication. The pathological symptoms caused by the use of sea water do resemble the poisoning with water, but are more often associated with the presence of a huge number of salts with which human kidneys can not adequately cope. The true type of poisoning is possible only when pathogenic microbes or viruses are present in the water. True intoxication is detected about 2-3 days after the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the human digestive system.
  • Poisoning with cynical water in the vast majority of cases is the result of an unconventional way of treating chronic alcoholism. Close people, suffering from alcohol dependence, quietly "treat" it, adding chinese water to dishes or drinks. This "treatment" is very dangerous, up to a lethal outcome - after all, the chicken water is not originally intended for ingestion, due to the content of a large number of toxic substances that have nervous and cardiac toxicity. Poisoning with cynical water can be suspected in the presence of symptoms such as thirst, slow heart rate, blood pressure drop, nausea with vomiting, frustration, strong salivation, increased sweating and heartburn. A person can die within three to twelve hours if he was not provided with timely medical assistance.
  • Poisoning with dirty water is not always accompanied by any severe symptoms. The clinical picture depends, first of all, on what substances and microorganisms contaminated with dirty water. For example, if the water was initially poorly cleaned (or not cleaned at all), then all typical signs of intoxication with digestive system damage may appear in humans. The first signs are usually diarrhea and vomiting. More dangerous is the chronic poisoning with drinking water, which happens if low-quality drinking water is supplied to the population for a long time. The danger is that the symptomatology of such a "slow" poisoning manifests itself not immediately - but only when the intoxication reaches a peak level. The gradual accumulation of toxic components inside the body leads to serious malfunctions on the part of internal organs, up to the development of oncology.
  • Poisoning with drinking water can also occur due to excessive consumption of it - for example, more than one liter per hour, or more than 4-6 liters per day. Symptoms of such poisoning are:
    • fever;
    • severe pain in the head;
    • a fit of vomiting;
    • diarrhea;
    • convulsive syndrome;
    • oppression of consciousness;
    • coma.

Hyperhydration may result in brain edema and patient death, so assistance in such a situation should be provided immediately.

  • Poisoning with water from the pool can occur for several reasons - because of the large amount of chlorine in the water, or because of the ingestion of microbes and parasites (if the water is not sufficiently treated). In the water from the pool contains chlorine, and its number determines the direction of the institution itself. Therefore, in some basins, chlorine may not be enough, but in others it may be in excess. If there is a lot of chlorine in the pool, the person who swallows the water can actually get poisoned: there is a digestive system disorder, the eyes become swollen and irritated, pershit in the throat, nasopharynx, there are unpleasant sensations in the ears, a cough appears. Particularly clear symptoms of water poisoning from the pool are observed in children: children become lethargic, sleepy, they have trouble breathing, there is a wet cough. In such a situation, the child should immediately be shown to the doctor.

If the water from the pool is not sufficiently treated, then it may contain an E. Coli, various parasites and bacteria. If this water is swallowed, a person may have signs of acute poisoning:

  • indigestion disorder;
  • vomiting;
  • coughing, intermittent breathing;
  • feeling of sluggishness and fatigue.

In some people, poisoning with water proceeds according to the type of influenza illness, so it is necessary to carefully monitor the emerging additional symptoms.

  • Poisoning with chlorinated water can occur not only in swimming pools, but also at home. For example, a common system of water supply to the population can be periodically washed with a concentrated solution of chlorine. This is done to disinfect the water supply system. Usually the water canal warns about such "washing" in advance and recommends people to make stocks of drinking water. If you ignore the recommendations and use chlorinated water for ingestion, you can really get poisoned. Signs of such poisoning with water are digestive disorders, diarrhea, nausea, pain inside the abdomen, drowsiness, apathy, heartburn. In such a situation, you need to take all the measures that are usually taken with acute food and drink poisoning.
  • Poisoning with tap water, despite chlorination, is also not uncommon. No wonder most people prefer to drink and cook with filtered or bottled water. Indeed, pipelines by which water is delivered to homes are not always in an ideal state - pipes can rust, leaks and holes in them can penetrate organic particles and other foreign matter. In no case should tap water be uncooked. It should be defended and boiled, and even better - additionally filtered through a special filter. Signs of poisoning are easy to recognize: it's vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea. However, not all cases of intoxication will be acute. Sometimes the defeat of the digestive system, liver, blood vessels and kidneys occurs slowly, month after month, year after year. In this situation, it is a chronic intoxication.
  • Poisoning with river water is a frequent occurrence, especially among children. Playing in a pond, children can swallow dirty water - and yet it is difficult to talk about the ecology and purity of rivers and lakes. Poisoning will occur with the following symptoms:
    • nausea;
    • loss of appetite until disgust;
    • acute pain around the navel, spasms;
    • increase of gas formation, liquid stool.

Worse, if a specific infection is present in the river - for example, cholera or typhoid fever. Such infections are particularly difficult and require immediate medical attention.

  • Poisoning with water from the well occurs when the owners of the well do not pay attention to the quality and composition of its contents. Most wells are filled from surface aquifers, which often contain oil products, heavy metals, surfactants. If nearby (less than 15 m) there is a toilet or a cesspool, the well may well contain wastewater, nitrogen compounds, which can also cause severe poisoning.

Poisoning with water from a well often occurs even when a well is rarely used. In this case, we are talking about the stagnation of water and the increase in its concentration of harmful - for example, nitrogenous substances. With such poisoning, there will be pain in the head, indigestion, dizziness, lethargy.

  • Poisoning boiled water can be called a rarity, but such a poisoning can also take place. Boiling is the thermal treatment of water, which simultaneously stimulates chemical reactions between organic water ingredients and activated chlorine. In such reactions, highly toxic compounds can be formed, even such as dioxins. The latter have the property to suppress immune defense and cause malignant cell degeneration. The boiling process, moreover, does not save from the presence of heavy metals in the liquid. Therefore: boiling is good, but depending on what kind of water we boil.
  • Poisoning by rotten water occurs due to the use of "old" drinks, standing for some time in a closed container. Intoxication is manifested by vomiting, loss of strength, severe drowsiness. In a similar situation, it is necessary to cleanse the digestive system as soon as possible of toxic components - it is optimal to take the appropriate dose of activated carbon or another enterosorbent.

Complications and consequences

After poisoning with water, serious and severe health consequences can develop:

  • change in the composition of the intestinal flora (dysbacteriosis);
  • chronic colitis, enterocolitis, gastroenterocolitis;
  • ulcerative colitis, stomach ulcer;
  • propensity to allergic reactions;
  • impaired renal function;
  • instability of blood pressure;
  • disorders of the joints, arthritis;
  • disturbances in metabolic processes;
  • diseases of the nervous system.

The most common complications are recorded in patients of children, the elderly, as well as those who already have a history of illness of the digestive tract.

It is impossible to perceive the fact of poisoning with water as a slight slight indisposition: recovery of the organism after poisoning should always be carried out under the supervision of a medical specialist.

trusted-source[32], [33], [34], [35], [36], [37], [38], [39]

Diagnostics of the poisoning with water

Diagnostic measures are sent to determine the cause of poisoning.

Clinical procedures are based on information obtained during the collection of anamnesis, visual examination of the patient, study of the symptoms of poisoning. The clinical part of the diagnosis is carried out by a doctor who provides emergency medical assistance to the victim - either on departure to the patient or in a hospital.

Blood and urine tests are performed for the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of toxic components in them, as well as for determining the likelihood of abnormalities in the functioning of internal organs. Analyzes are handed over in laboratories at a hospital, or in separate independent laboratories.

Also for the laboratory diagnosis, particles of vomit, gastric and / or intestinal flushing can be directed. It is also necessary to take a sample of water if the source of poisoning is known.

Instrumental diagnostics in water poisoning is, as a rule, secondary, and consists of such procedures:

  • measurement of blood pressure;
  • conducting ultrasound of internal organs;
  • Chest X-ray;
  • Fibrogastroscopy (with lesion of the digestive system).

Differential diagnosis should be conducted with other types of intoxication - food, alcohol, drug, etc.

trusted-source[40], [41], [42], [43], [44], [45], [46], [47], [48], [49], [50]

Who to contact?

Treatment of the poisoning with water

The main goal of therapeutic measures for poisoning with water should be to remove toxic substances from the circulatory system and tissues, as well as restore the exchange of water and electrolytes.

What should I do if I get poisoned with water first?

  • If poisoning with water occurred more recently, then the victim should immediately rinse the stomach. If the use of poor-quality or contaminated water occurred earlier, then the lavage is already meaningless, as water is quickly absorbed by the walls of the stomach.
  • If there are all signs of poisoning with water, and there is no diarrhea, then as soon as possible clean the intestines - for example, use a laxative drug or put an enema of a siphon type.
  • The next step should be to fill the fluid composition of the blood in case there is dehydration and fluid loss. For internal use, solutions such as Regidron, Glucosolan are used. For intravenous infusion, Trisol, Chlosol, etc.,
  • When poisoning with water, one of the first actions is also the reception of enterosorbent drugs - substances that bind and remove toxins. As enterosorbents, such drugs are used:
    • Filtrum three tablets 4 times a day;
    • Activated carbon - 10-40 tablets at a time, depending on the weight of the patient and the severity of poisoning;
    • White coal 4 tablets 4 times a day;
    • Enterosgel 1,5 st. L. Three times a day;
    • Polysorb per 1 tbsp. L. In 100 g of pure water, 4 times a day.
  • With severe spastic pain in the abdomen, antispasmodics are prescribed - Drotaverin on a tablet three times a day, Duspitalin one capsule twice a day.
  • When diarrhea is appropriate use of tanning and enveloping drugs, as well as antiseptics - for example, Intetrix 2 capsules 4 times a day, Intestopan 2 tablets 5 times a day.
  • At the restoration stage enzymatic medications Festal, Pancreatin - are used to stabilize digestive secretion.
  • To restore the intestinal flora appoint Lineks (two capsules three times a day), Bifidumbacterin, Normaz (75 ml per day), Bactisubtil (one capsule 5 times daily before meals).

With specific poisoning antibacterial therapy is carried out, depending on the detected pathogens:

  • Furazolidone 0.1 g 4 times per day;
  • Biseptol 2 tablets twice a day;
  • Levomycetinum, Ampicillinum on 0,5 g 4 times a day, within a week.

Treatment with antibiotics is carried out against the background of the use of antifungal drugs and funds that improve the performance of microflora in the intestine. The duration of treatment is determined by the doctor on an individual basis, depending on the severity of the patient's condition.

Vitamins

When poisoning with water, which is accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting attacks, general intoxication, the body loses a large amount of vitamins and minerals. Therefore, after elimination of the first signs of intoxication, it is necessary to take measures to restore the vitamin and mineral balance in the body of the victim.

So, for the normal functioning of the digestive tract, you need:

  • vitamin B 1, which improves the functioning of the intestine;
  • vitamin PP, improving the secretion of enzymes;
  • vitamin U, helping to repair damaged tissues of the digestive tract;
  • ascorbic acid, which increases the body's immune resistance.

Only after severe poisoning is required the appointment of individual drugs in the form of multivitamin complexes. If the poisoning with water was easy or moderate, then it will be enough to further diversify your diet and balance the diet by including in the daily menu plant ingredients, sour-milk products, seafood, egg yolks.

Physiotherapeutic treatment

Physiotherapy is relatively rarely included in the scheme of emergency care for patients with water poisoning. In some cases, the appointment of oxygen therapy, which successfully eliminates oxygen deficiency in the tissues of the body.

Alternative treatment

Alternative medical methods will help obegchit a status at a poisoning by water in lungs and srednetjazhelih cases. In case of severe poisoning, it is impossible to engage in self-treatment - you will need urgent medical help.

  • Helps to remove toxins from the body helps clean drinking water, as well as visiting a bath or sauna.
  • It relieves spasms and speeds up the elimination of toxins by a dill decoction with honey. In a glass of water pour 1 tsp. Dry dill or a tablespoon of finely chopped greens. Dill simmer for about 20 minutes on a small burner, then remove from heat, cool, add cold boiled water to the original volume of the glass, add 1 tbsp. L. Honey. The medicine is taken half an hour before meals, half the glass.
  • With a little poisoning, tea from ginger will help. Pour 1 tsp. Ground root with a glass of boiling water, stand for 20 minutes. Take the drug for 1 tbsp. L. Every half hour-hour. The root of ginger contributes to the elimination of toxins, limits the viability of microbes and strengthens the immune system.
  • To neutralize toxic substances and improve the functioning of the digestive system, it is recommended that you do not eat anything during the day, except for rice broth and flaxseed. To prepare a rice broth, you need to take 1 serving of rice for 7 portions of water, cook for 10 minutes. The agent is taken 5-6 times a day for a third of the cup, sprinkled with a small amount of flax seed.

trusted-source[51], [52], [53], [54]

Herbal Treatment

To accelerate the withdrawal of toxic substances from the bloodstream, it is necessary to ensure sufficient supply of clean water and vitamins to the body. It is useful to drink pure water with the addition of lemon juice, as well as a decoction of dogrose or black chokeberry. Natural vitamins, and especially ascorbic acid, take part in neutralizing toxic substances and strengthening immune defenses. In addition, vitaminized drinks make it possible to replenish essential for the body substances lost with diarrhea or vomiting.

When poisoning with water, the root of the althaea is useful. A tablespoon of the crushed rhizome is poured with a glass of boiling water, insist for half an hour, after which it is filtered and taken at 1 tbsp. L. Before meals up to five times a day.

If poisoning with water is accompanied by diarrhea, heartburn, bloating, then you can use the recipe on the basis of St. John's wort. To prepare an infusion, you need to take 1 tbsp. L. Dry plant, pour a glass of boiling water and insist 3 hours. The drug is consumed 50 ml three times a day before eating.

If the stomach strongly hurts when poisoning, then to the grass of St. John's wort, it is possible to add nettle leaves and the grass of the twig. To prepare the infusion take 1 tbsp. L. An equal collection of these plants, pour a glass of boiling water, insist for an hour. Take half the glass 5 times a day before meals.

In addition to these plants, a good detoxification effect allows you to achieve grass cudweed, yarrow, sage.

Homeopathy

The list of homeopathy remedies that help with water poisoning can be called quite extensive. However, the appointment of such drugs should be carried out by a qualified doctor-homeopath.

  • Nuks vomica - is used for vomiting, pain in the head, spasms in the abdomen.
  • Aetuza - is used for water poisoning in children.
  • Phosphorus - is prescribed for strong vomiting, when vomiting with blood.
  • Arsenicum - recommended for food poisoning or water, with acute pain, diarrhea and chills.
  • Podophyllum - is prescribed for diarrhea and vomiting, rumbling in the abdomen, general weakness, with frequent urge to defecate.
  • Pulsatilla - is used for vomiting, bloating, colic, flatulence.
  • Tabacum - helps with vomiting and dizziness.

Homeopathic remedies are non-toxic and safe, but they can be taken only with mild forms of poisoning. If the injured person is in serious condition, it is better to contact the medical specialists for emergency medical care.

Surgery

Indication for the purpose of surgical methods of detoxification is the characteristic symptomatology of severe intoxication, confirmed by positive blood and urine tests (toxic substances are detected in high concentrations, which can lead to death).

The effective effect of hemodialysis is manifested when it is used in the early stages of water poisoning. With the help of hemodialysis, it is possible to eliminate the initial signs of intoxication, prevent the development of complications, and reduce the risk of death.

Peritoneal dialysis, as a rule, does not have this effectiveness. This type of detoxification is used if the poisonous substances are in high concentration and stay in the blood stream for a long time.

Prevention

If it is responsible to take preventive measures, then it becomes almost impossible to get water poisoning. To protect yourself from poisoning, you need to listen to these recommendations:

  • For drinking it is better to use bottled water of well-known manufacturers. At the same time, for daily consumption it is necessary to purchase table water types, but not mineral medicinal ones - the latter contains a large number of salts and microelements, which can negatively affect the digestive system.
  • If you use tap water for drinking and cooking, then you should pay maximum attention to its filtration and settling with further heat treatment (boiling). Only such a phased detoxification will help to make the liquid from the aqueduct suitable for drinking.
  • If you filter water with a special jug, you must not forget to change the filter in a timely manner, and rinse the tank itself with clean running water to prevent the deposition of deposits and congestion of microbes.
  • Water from the river, the sea or other open sources for internal use is not suitable, except that it is cleaned with special technology.
  • The daily amount of liquid for drinking for a healthy person can not exceed 4-6 liters. Also, you can not drink more than one liter of water in one hour, otherwise there may be a syndrome of hyperhydration - excessive "flood" of the body, which is also a kind of poisoning.

trusted-source[55], [56], [57], [58], [59], [60], [61], [62], [63]

Forecast

The quality of the forecast largely depends on the degree of intoxication of internal organs. With mild and severe intoxication, the prognosis in most cases is favorable: the disturbed functions of the body are fully restored within 10-25 days.

Severe poisoning with water, with the phenomena of degeneration and necrosis of the kidneys and liver, requires a long recovery of the organism - from six months to two years.

Such poisoning with water as hyperhydration, in severe cases, can lead to brain edema and death.

trusted-source[64], [65], [66]

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