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Symptoms of poisoning

Alexey Portnov, medical expert
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024

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Symptoms of poisoning poisoning depends on the poison. In addition, different patients who are poisoned by the same agent may have very different symptoms. Nevertheless, 6 groups of symptoms (toxic syndromes) are considered characteristic and can indicate a class of a specific poison. In patients who have taken several substances, the likelihood of developing symptoms specific to individual agents is low.

Typical toxic syndromes

Syndrome	Symptoms	Common causes
Anticholinergic	Tachycardia, hyperthermia, mydriasis, skin is warm and dry, urine retention, ileus, delirium ("crazy as a hatter, blind as a bat, red as a beet, hot as a kettle and dry as a bone" *)	Antihistamines, atropine, ergot alkaloids, stink stool, mushrooms (some types), psychotropic drugs (many), scopolamine, tricyclic antidepressants
Cholinergic, muscarinic	SLUDGE-syndrome (salivation salivation ), lacrimation lacrimation), increased urination and defecation defecation , intestinal colic (gas trointestinal cramps) and emesis vomiting )]	Carbamates, fungi (some species), FOS, physostigmine, pilocarpine, pyridostigmine bromide
Cholinergic, nicotine-like	Tachycardia, arterial hypertension, fasciculations, abdominal pain, paresis	Spider bite of caracurt, carbamates, insecticides (some), nicotine

* - From L. Carroll "Alice in Wonderland".

Signs of poisoning usually occur soon after contact with the poison, but in some cases they appear later. The latent period is possible if the metabolite of a toxic substance is more toxic than the original substance (methanol, ethylene glycol, hepatotoxins). The use of hepatotoxins (paracetamol, iron preparations, Amanita phalloides fungi ) can lead to acute hepatic insufficiency during the first or several days. When poisoning with metals or hydrocarbon solvents, poisoning symptoms occur only after chronic exposure.

Poisons taken inside, cause systemic manifestations. Corrosive and corrosive liquids, mainly, affect the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract and lead to the occurrence of stomatitis, enteritis or perforations. When you take some poisons (alcohol, hydrocarbons), there is a specific odor from the mouth. Contact of poisons with the skin is characterized by various skin manifestations (rash, pain, blisters); prolonged exposure to toxic substances leads to dermatitis. When inhaling water-soluble toxic substances develop symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection; water-soluble poisons cause the development of symptoms of pulmonary parenchyma and pulmonary edema. The ingestion of toxic substances in the eyes causes damage to the cornea and the lens, manifested by pain, hemorrhages and redness, as well as loss of vision. Some substances (cocaine, phencyclidine, amphetamine) cause significant agitation, hyperthermia, acidosis and rhabdomyolysis.

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