If, several hours after eating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea suddenly began, the temperature rose and weakness occurred, then it is likely that food poisoning is taking place. It is necessary not only to be able to recognize the symptoms of ill health, but also to provide first aid in order to reduce the consequences of eating poor-quality food to a minimum.
Causes of food poisoning
If the temperature regime and the shelf life of food products are not observed, an environment favorable for the development of pathogenic microflora arises in them. Bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and others, not only actively multiply, but also release toxins as waste products.
When it enters the human digestive tract, such food leads to a malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract with concomitant signs of ill health.
The most common poisoning occurs with low-quality dairy, meat, fish products, pastries with creams, salads with mayonnaise dressing, homemade canned food, as well as poisonous mushrooms and berries.
Types of food poisoning
The classification of food poisoning includes three groups:
Microbial contamination
- toxic infections (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Proteus, enterococci, parahemolytic vibrio, etc.)
- bacteriotoxicosis (staphylococcus, botulinum bacillus)
- mycotoxicosis (microscopic fungi)
Non-microbial contamination
- a priori poisoning by poisonous plants and animals;
- poisoning with toxic products formed in food as a result of exposure to certain conditions (solanine in potato tubers under the influence of sunlight)
- chemicals in food (pesticides, nitrates, food additives)
Bacterial poisoning is not transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person; the route of infection is through food.
Signs of food poisoning
The severity of the poisoning depends on several factors:
- age
- body weight
- the health of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract and the state of the immune system;
- type of causative agent of the disease;
- the amount of spoiled food ingested
As a rule, the first signs of food poisoning appear after 4-5 hours, but in some cases, symptoms may appear within an hour or, conversely, in a day or later.
You can suspect food poisoning by the following signs:
- Discomfort, pain, cramps in the stomach, intestines;
- Nausea, vomiting;
- Bloating, flatulence;
- Diarrhea (stool has an unpleasant pungent odor, in the feces - undigested pieces of food);
- Weakness, dizziness;
- Clouding of consciousness;
- Salivation;
- Tachycardia, shortness of breath
Body temperature may rise.
What to do in case of food poisoning
First aid for suspected food poisoning should be provided immediately, at home. It includes the following actions, regardless of whether the symptoms are in an adult or a child:
- gastric lavage is necessary to remove poor-quality food and, if possible, toxins from the body. For this purpose, a solution of baking soda or a slightly colored solution of potassium permanganate is used. The victim drinks the liquid, and then stimulates repeated vomiting, until the contents become clear, without food impurities;
- The remaining toxins are removed from the body by enterosorbents - substances with a huge absorbency. These include tablets of activated carbon, polyphepan, enterosgel;
- due to vomiting and diarrhea, the body is losing fluid, so it is important to restore water balance with plenty of drinking. Along with warm boiled water, you can use rehydron and other drugs, the composition of solutions of which is close to the composition of physiological body fluids. It is important to water the patient in small portions so as not to provoke repeated vomiting;
- with food poisoning, bed rest and rest are shown.
Antipyretic drugs, antispasmodic drugs can be used symptomatically.
At the first signs of food poisoning in a child, an ambulance should be called. Self-administration of antibiotics is not allowed: what to take, and in what dosage the doctor should say.
In this video, Dr. Komarovsky emphasizes the danger of food poisoning for the child's body, especially under the age of three. With severe intoxication, loss of consciousness, hallucinations, visual impairment, and orientation may occur. Children need to call an ambulance immediately, there is a high risk of death!
Nutrition for food poisoning
The patient needs a gentle diet that helps restore the body's water-salt balance, does not irritate the inflamed mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, is easily digestible and nutritious.
What can you eat
- on the second day, in addition to drinking plenty of water, add broth (without meat), vegetable puree (100 g)
- the following shows rice porridge, boiled in water, without adding salt, seasonings, oil (200 g), rice broth, vegetable soup without meat, a few croutons
- vegetable casserole (without adding eggs), broths, boiled fish
- porridge on the water (rice, buckwheat)
- broths (meat, vegetable)
- meat and fish in the form of steamed cutlets
- boiled or baked vegetables
- crackers, unleavened biscuits
- mineral water
- herbal teas
The list of prohibited products includes:
- dairy products without exception
- fatty broths
- raw vegetables
- fruit
- fried meat, fish
- biscuits, pastries, cakes, pastries
- oatmeal, millet, pearl barley porridge
- sausages
- sugary drinks, soda, juices
Prevention of intestinal poisoning
To avoid illness and reduce the likelihood of poisoning, you should:
- pay attention to the expiration date, especially for perishable foods;
- do not take products with improper storage conditions;
- food products that have damaged packaging (dented, torn) should not be purchased;
- refuse to eat foods that have an unpleasant or unusual smell, color, consistency;
- sediment in liquid and puree products, gas bubbles, stratification indicate the occurrence of chemical reactions, changes in composition and properties;
- on vacation, excursions, you should be careful when trying unfamiliar food, if possible, refuse it if you are not sure of the quality;
- observe personal hygiene, wash hands after using the restroom, outdoors, before eating;
- wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly;
- use separate cutting boards for raw meat, fish, vegetables, bread;
- auditing in the refrigerator and ruthlessly destroying foods that should not be eaten
Now you know what can cause food poisoning, what measures should be taken first of all, what they eat to restore strength. Treatment is prescribed by a doctor, if necessary, the patient is left in the hospital.
The poison is passed through the mouth, blood and respiratory tract. The further result of therapy depends on how quickly and correctly the necessary actions are carried out. Feature - the inevitable process of vomiting. After gastric lavage, we provide first aid in case of poisoning:
Alcohol
With mild and moderate intoxication, we wash the stomach, without medication.
Food
We accept a sorbent (activated carbon). We drink abundantly, adhere to the regime and diet.
Poisonous substances, gas, smoke
We take the patient out into the air. We cause a spasm of vomiting, rinse your mouth and throat with soda (1 tablespoon of soda in a glass of water).
Drugs
We put the patient on his side, move the lower arm forward, provide air flow. Rinsing every 30-40 minutes.
Mushrooms
Eliminate the remains of the poison: dilute manganese in water at room temperature and induce vomiting spasm.
Medicine
We find out the dosage of the medicine taken by the victim, we cause vomiting spasms.
Rules for the provision of first aid for food poisoning
Primary signals of food poisoning appear within 1-2 hours after ingestion of low-quality, dangerous, contaminated food. It is important to provide the victim with prehospital medical care in a timely manner in order to avoid deterioration of the condition.
Food intoxication is provoked by bacteria (salmonella, botulism bacillus, staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli) found in food.
| Poisoning | Signs of intestinal infections |
| Medicine |
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| Alcohol |
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| Poisonous substances (household chemical) |
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| Food |
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| Drugs |
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| Mushrooms |
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| Gas, smoke. |
|
Vomiting and nausea are accompanied by every type of administration! Method of gastric lavage - help # 1.
Every adult has faced food intoxication. The provocateur that causes the condition is the penetration of poor-quality food into the body. Bacterial contamination of food. In addition to intoxication with alcohol, drugs, mushrooms, medications, poisonous substances, gas, smoke, one of the most common types found in everyday life is food poisoning.
Food products of animal origin are considered unsafe: sausage, meat, fish, canned food, dairy products, including confectionery cream, ice cream. Crushed pieces of meat - jelly, minced meat, pate, are especially easily infected.
Depending on the dosage of the infected product, the hour period for the onset of the first symptoms depends. Poisoning can occur within 30 minutes after eating or after 20-26 hours.
Distinctive properties of intestinal infection are:
- General painful condition.
- Intense nausea (sometimes with high intermittent frequency).
- Spasmodic pain in the abdomen.
- Diarrhea.
- Skin discoloration to pale.
- Feeling of dry mouth and thirst.
- Loss of strength, lowering of blood pressure.
- Decrease or increase in heart rate.
- The appearance of chills and an increase in body temperature.
- Fainting, convulsions are less common.
Actions taken at the first symptoms of an intestinal infection are aimed at eliminating toxic components from the body and preventing dehydration.
General algorithm of emergency actions in case of poisoning at home
- urgently block the access of the poisonous substance;
- rinse the stomach: while standing, drink in one gulp in large sips the maximum amount of warm bottled water, provoke vomiting (pressing your finger on the root of the tongue). Repeat the process until the remaining residues in the stomach cease to come out along with the water;
- use adsorbents. Prevents the penetration of toxins into the bloodstream. Activated carbon (per 10 kg of weight - 1 tab.). The adsorbent exists in the form of powder, tablets, solutions. Conduct symptomatic therapy (taking medications that correct the body functions disturbed due to the intake of poison);
- drink the maximum amount of liquid. Drink non-carbonated mineral water to stay hydrated;
- cleanse the intestines, preferably in a natural way (diarrhea). If your body's function hasn't worked since the toxins hit, take a laxative.
When taking a laxative, adhere to the dosage indicated on the package. Pay attention to the frequency of carry-over, as it leads to dehydration.
After each emptying, drink a glass of warm, still bottled water.
- stick to a diet, light fasting. The first days, reduce the volume of food intake and refuse spicy, fatty and other irritating food to the stomach, or completely refuse to take food (with the permission of the doctor).
Do not delay the intoxication period and urgently take the necessary actions. In urgent cases, call an ambulance. It is not always known what caused the attack; self-medication does not always effectively cope with the problem.
You need to call an ambulance if:
- Child under 3 years old.
- Pregnant woman.
- Elderly person.
- Intoxication is accompanied by intense diarrhea over 9 times a day.
- Frequent vomiting spasms.
- Depression increases.
- Suspicious symptoms can be the cause of another disease.
With serious intestinal infections, such as salmonella, shigella, botulism bacillus, the symptoms typical of ordinary poisoning may not be observed.
If you are intoxicated with food, gas, or another infection, do not panic and follow step by step in providing competent first aid before the arrival of doctors. Food poisoning is a violation of the vital activity of the body, formed due to the penetration of toxic components or poisonous substances into it.
Depending on the nature of the intestinal infection, effective measures are taken to provide 1st aid - a set of therapeutic and prophylactic actions carried out before the intervention of a medical examination by a doctor. Common poisoning, accompanied by nausea, vomiting cramps, diarrhea and pain in the abdomen. We advise the victim to take 3-5 grams. activated carbon at intervals of every 15 minutes for 1 hour, drink enough water, do not eat, and certainly seek medical attention.
There are cases of intentional or accidental intoxication with medications and alcohol.
In this case, the first steps in providing assistance are as follows:
- prepare a salt-soda solution: 2 liters. water - 20g. salt and 10g. soda. We wash the stomach with liquid. We repeat the process until the vomit is cleared;
- take an adsorbent: 1 kg. live weight 10 tab. activated carbon;
- we observe the condition of the victim and wait for the arrival of the ambulance.
Timely and high-quality first aid for poisoning gives a chance for a speedy recovery.
What not to do
Poor quality food products, household chemicals, alcoholic beverages, poisonous plants, volatile and other substances, medicines - an incomplete list of reasons for intoxication of the digestive system of the body. Failure to comply with the necessary algorithm of actions will lead to a "visit" to the infectious diseases department in the hospital or intensive care unit. The key to successful manipulations with a patient depends on the qualifications of physicians, the availability of medicines, how timely and high-quality assistance will be provided, which is necessary in case of poisoning, and how quickly the patient is admitted to the clinic.
There are a number of mistakes made by people who are far from the principles of first aid. Adhere to consistent rules that will help eliminate a number of mistakes that can worsen the victim's health:
- Do not ask incompetent acquaintances, neighbors, or friends for an antidote to poisoning. Don't look for information on the Internet either.
- If the person is unconscious, do not provoke vomiting spasms. May result in asphyxiation by vomit.
- Children under 6 years old are at risk, gastric lavage, other manipulations need to be performed in the presence of a doctor or with his permission.
- If the victim is poisoned with gasoline, other petroleum products, in no case provoke vomiting spasms in him. Since the ingress of oil into the respiratory tract leads to the formation of a severe stage of pneumonia, a lethal outcome is possible.
- Soda or alkaline solution is prohibited in cases of drunk acid. The situation with the drunk alkali is inversely proportional. This will harm the mucous membrane of the body and provoke a burn due to the chemical reaction of the components.
Competent first aid is essential for food poisoning. The result of subsequent treatment and recovery depends on it. The ingress of poison into the bloodstream causes complications and does not contribute to a speedy recovery. Any intoxication is accompanied by a number of events and hospitalization of the poisoned person.
Food poisoning can be bacterial, viral, or chemical.
Food poisoning is an intoxication of the body that occurs when eating stale foods or foods high in toxins. Symptoms develop rapidly within 1-6 hours, and without treatment, the condition worsens. First aid for food poisoning is especially important if the intoxication is caused by meat or fish.
It is necessary to act on the basis of the condition of the patient and the type of food that he ate the day before.
If he has a high body temperature above 39 ° C, a metallic taste in his mouth or numbness in his tongue, call an ambulance immediately. The victim needs urgent medical attention.
When intoxicated with fish, there is a high probability of contracting botulism. The disease is manifested by muscle weakness or muscle paralysis, vomiting, partial loss of speech or vision.
General algorithm of actions
First aid for food poisoning at home for an adult looks like this:
| Act | Action Description |
|---|---|
 | Gastric lavage removes toxins from the body. A solution of baking soda is suitable (for 1.5 liters of water, 1 tablespoon of soda). |
 | To induce vomiting, you must press with two fingers on the root of the tongue. Induce vomit until it is clear. |
 | The sorbent intake will remove the remains of toxins from the stomach. Activated carbon or an aqueous solution of it, which acts faster, will do. Dosage - 1 tablet for every 10 kg of human weight. Crush the charcoal and add 100 ml of water. When using white coal, reduce the dosage by 2 times. |
 | After severe vomiting, it is necessary to restore the fluid deficit to prevent dehydration. Drink rehydration solutions such as Rehydron or Oralit. |
 | Calling doctors is necessary if first aid has not yielded visible results and the patient's health condition worsens. |
Severe poisoning
Severe poisoning can be accompanied by respiratory and cardiovascular failure. What is the correct way to provide first aid in this case?
Follow the steps described in the instructions with the photo.
| Act | Action Description |
|---|---|
 | Call an ambulance. |
 | If breathing is impaired, vomiting should not be induced. If fish poisoning occurs, but there is no urge to vomit, it means that it has already left the stomach. |
 | If you have severe diarrhea, you should not take fixatives. If there is no diarrhea, give a cleansing enema. |
 | Take sorbents such as activated carbon, Enterosgel, Smecta. |
When you urgently need a doctor
You must immediately call a doctor in such cases:
- intoxication with fish, there are suspicions of botulism;
- symptoms of dehydration build up quickly, signs of damage to the nervous system appear;
- poisoning with mushrooms or food containing chemical compounds;
- symptoms of intoxication do not go away after 2 days;
- a child or an elderly person has been poisoned by food.
Treatment of fish poisoning in children is unacceptable at home.
Prevention measures
Prevention of food poisoning is as follows:
- Wash your hands before eating.
- Eat meat and dairy products only after heat treatment.
- Observe the shelf life, store perishable food only in the refrigerator.
- Buy meat, fish and seafood in specialized stores, do not trust spontaneous trade.
- Always look at the timing of food production. If the food smells bad, you shouldn't buy it.
- Wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly before eating.
- Do not eat at dubious dining establishments.
Learn more about the symptoms and prevention of food poisoning in the video for this article.
Following the algorithm of first aid for food poisoning, these actions are enough to remove toxins from the body. But severe intoxication can cause, and this condition requires immediate resuscitation.
Poisoning occurs when a poison enters the body, which can be any substance that has a harmful effect, and sometimes even leads to death. It is important to remember that poison can enter in various ways: through the mouth, lungs, skin (more often in children), mucous membranes (eyes, nose, etc.), insect and snake bites. First aid and treatment of poisoning largely depend on how the poison entered the body, as well as on the patient's condition.
First aid tasks for poisoning:
- Stop or limit the intake of poison into the body.
- If possible, remove any poison that has already entered it as soon as possible.
- Provide the victim with a safe environment.
- Bring the victim to his senses, if necessary, administer artificial respiration and chest compressions.
- Take the victim to the hospital as soon as possible.
First aid can be provided both by strangers and by the victims themselves. It often turns out that timely first aid in the treatment of poisoning helps save lives. According to statistics, in the overwhelming majority of cases, domestic poisoning is 97-98%, while industrial poisoning is only 2-3%.
Domestic poisoning is subdivided into alcohol intoxication, domestic accidents, and deliberate suicidal poisoning. More than 500 toxic substances are described in the literature.
The main signs and symptoms of poisoning
- nausea, vomiting
- cold sweat
- chills
- convulsions
- sudden lethargy
- drowsiness
- loose stools;
- headache and dizziness.
- depression of respiratory function and impaired consciousness (in severe cases)
- drooling and / or watery eyes
- burns around the lips, on the tongue, or on the skin
- strange demeanor of the victim
What to do in case of poisoning, depending on the route of ingestion of the poison:
In case of poisoning alcohol, poor quality food, mushrooms, poisonous plants and their fruits, etc. poisons when poison enters the body through the mouth.If the victim is conscious, he is given a large amount of liquid to drink, then vomiting is caused by pressing the root of the tongue (for persons over 6 years old) with fingers, the procedure is repeated until clean wash water.
After gastric lavage, crushed activated carbon (1 tablet per 10 kg of weight), smecta and other sorbents are used in the treatment of poisoning. You can take white clay, a saline laxative.
The victim is placed in a recovery position - on his side (so that he does not choke on vomit), he is warmed with the help of foot warmers. They give a plentiful drink (tea, water are suitable for this).
As soon as possible, an ambulance team is called to hospitalize the victim, as his condition may worsen. It is advisable to save and transfer to the doctor the substance with which the patient was poisoned.
In case of poisoning with acids (vinegar) and alkalis, it is impossible to wash the stomach.
In case of poisoning with gaseous chemicals ( carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, ammonia, bromine vapor, hydrogen fluoride, chlorine, sulfur dioxide, etc..),when the poison enters the body through the lungs when inhaled... By the frequency of gas poisoning, poisoning carbon monoxide occurs more often than poisoning with other gaseous poisons. Carbon monoxide is produced when any type of fuel is burned: gas, oil, kerosene, wood or coal.
In case of poisoning carbon monoxide , the victim must first of all be taken out to fresh air, provided with a comfortable horizontal position, and freed from embarrassing clothing.
It is necessary to rub the victim's body, then wrap it up warmly, apply warming pads to his legs, let the cotton swab with ammonia sniff, if the victim is conscious, he can rinse his throat and mouth with a solution of soda. ...
Regardless of the degree of poisoning, the victim is hospitalized in a hospital, in case complications later arise from the nervous and respiratory systems;
In case of poisoning with toxic substances that penetrate the skin (some poisonous plants, chemical solvents and insect repellents-FOS-organophosphorus compounds (karbofos, dichlorvos, etc.)), the poison enters the body through the skin and mucous surfaces.
If a poisonous substance gets on the skin, it is necessary to remove this substance from the skin surface as soon as possible with a cotton or gauze swab or rag, trying not to smear it on the skin surface.
After that, the skin should be well washed with warm water and soap or a weak solution of baking (baking) soda, treat the lesion on the skin with 5-10% ammonia solution.In the presence of a wound, such as a burn, apply a clean or sterile wet bandage. Then rinse the stomach twice with a 2% solution of baking soda (1 teaspoon of soda in 1 glass of water).
Then you should drink 0.5 cups of a 2% solution of baking soda with the addition of activated carbon or a saline laxative. The victim is given strong tea to drink. Wait for the arrival of the ambulance team.
If a toxic substance gets into the eyes, immediately rinse them with a stream of water with the eyelids open. Rinsing should be thorough for 20-30 minutes, since even a small amount of a poisonous substance that gets into the eyes can cause deep damage to them. After rinsing the eyes, apply a dry bandage and consult an eye doctor immediately.
What NOT to do
- do not induce vomiting if the person is unconscious
- do not induce vomiting in pregnant women
- not induce vomiting in those with weak hearts and seizures
- do not induce vomiting in case of poisoning with oil products, acids, alkali
- do not give a laxative in case of poisoning with oil products, acids, alkali
- do not give soda!
- do not give acid in case of alkali poisoning and vice versa !!!
Poisoning is a systemic intoxication of the body, which occurs under the influence of toxins, poisons and their decay products. There are several ways of penetration of toxic substances, and each of them poses a serious threat to the health and life of the victim. First aid for poisoning is an important stage before treatment. The success of subsequent therapy depends on how quickly and correctly the necessary actions are performed.
Types and classifications
Depending on the type of poisoning and the method of penetration into the human body, several types of intoxication are distinguished.
Poisonous substances enter a person in 3 ways:
- Through the gastrointestinal tract (ingestion of poisons);
- Through the respiratory system (inhalation);
- Through the skin.
The specificity of emergency care for poisoning depends on the type of toxins that have entered the body. There are many species classifications, but they are all based on 2 types of toxic substances: endogenous and exogenous.
Intoxication with exogenous substances occurs under the influence of plant and animal poisons, toxins that produce spoiled foods. Often, intoxication is caused not by the poisonous substance itself, but by its decay products.
Endogenous poisons are produced during the process when tissue is damaged. Radiation damage, inflammation processes and the formation of malignant tumors also provoke the appearance of endogenous poisons.
Note!
Due to an excess of hormones, thyrotoxicosis develops. This is the name of the disease, which results in internal intoxication.
Both types of poisoning are united by the duration of exposure to toxins on the body.
Symptoms and first aid for acute poisoning depend on what caused the intoxication. In this regard, the following groups of toxic substances are distinguished:
- Incorrectly cooked or;
- Mushrooms;
- Alcohol in excess of doses and alcohol-based surrogate drinks;
- Gases and vapors of toxic substances.
Any poisonous substance has a toxic effect on the digestive tract, respiratory and nervous system. Moreover, all important organs are susceptible to an intoxicating "blow", therefore, the absence or untimely provision of emergency care in acute poisoning will lead to disability or death of the poisoned person.
General information
First aid for poisoning consists in the sequential implementation of actions, which include 4 stages:
- Eliminate the further effects of the toxic substance on the human body;
- Reduce the effect of already absorbed toxins on the skin, esophagus or respiratory system;
- Apply techniques to restore damaged organs;
- If necessary, conduct.
Consider how first aid is provided in case of damage to different localizations.
Leather
Toxic substances not only quickly affect the skin, but also have the ability to penetrate under them. Therefore, first of all, you need to eliminate their impact.
Actions are performed in the following sequence:
- The person providing assistance must use personal protective equipment (gloves, masks, gowns);
- Undress the victim;
- Toxins are washed off with plenty of cool water;
- If the skin is not damaged, washing is carried out with soap.
Note!
It is forbidden to carry out methods of chemical neutralization of toxins, since the heat released during the reaction promotes deeper penetration of poisons under the skin.
The victim is hospitalized without fail.
Eyes
Due to the special sensitivity of the cornea, exposure to toxic substances can threaten the victim with blindness. Therefore, you need to act quickly.
- The injured person is placed on his back;
- Using any flexible hose, rinse each eye in turn with clean water from the mains or with saline.
Note!
Use at least 1 liter of water to rinse each eye.
If the eyes are damaged by acids or alkalis, it is imperative to determine the pH level on the mucous membrane of the eyes.
It is important!
It is forbidden to instill any drops in the eyes, except for analgesics! The substances contained in the eye drops will further damage the mucous membranes and cornea.
In case of severe injuries, the victim is immediately hospitalized.
Respiratory system
You can poison yourself with carbon monoxide or vapors of other poisonous volatile substances. In this case, only the respiratory organs are damaged. The victim feels that they can lead to unconsciousness and death.
Patients with this condition are immediately taken out of the zone of exposure to gases and hospitalized.
Poisoning by volatile substances is also dangerous for the person providing assistance, therefore it is important for the rescuer to use personal protective equipment.
Gastrointestinal tract
This form of intoxication is the most common. At the same time, first aid for this type of poisoning is of paramount importance. If it is provided correctly and in a timely manner, you can do without hospitalization.
Poisoning with medications and other substances that have entered the gastrointestinal tract requires immediate cleaning of the stomach and intestines of the poisoned patient.
Let's consider in detail the ways of carrying out these events.
Gastric lavage
The stomach is freed from its contents in 2 ways:
- Artificially induced vomiting;
- Sounding method.
First aid for acute poisoning is carried out exclusively in the first way, since the use of the probe requires special skills, as well as the presence of medications.
There are 3 ways to stimulate the gag reflex:
- Pressing with a finger or an auxiliary object on the root of the tongue (reflex method);
- Drinking a large amount of liquid (water, solutions with potassium permanganate, soda or salt);
- Combined method.
It is prohibited to artificially induce a gag reflex in the following cases:
- If the patient is unconscious;
- The poisoned person has convulsions;
- The patient fell into a coma;
- A kid under 5 years old;
- A person has been poisoned by substances that hypothetically can cause the conditions described above;
- In case of intoxication caused by alkalis and acids.
For the procedure, you need to prepare clean water or its solution in a volume of 1-2 liters. To prepare the solution, use 1 tablespoon of soda or salt per 1 liter of water. Potassium permanganate is used with caution, adding only 1-2 crystals to the solution so that the water acquires a slightly pink color.
It is important!
It is impossible to use potassium permanganate for gastric lavage in case of chemical poisoning! It can burn the esophagus even more.
If, after drinking the liquid, the gag reflex does not occur, you need to use the first reflex technique.
Cleaning the stomach by probe is carried out in a clinic. This procedure is more complicated, but its effectiveness is much higher even after more than 2 hours have passed since the onset of intoxication.
The probe method is used in such cases:
- In order to remove toxins that have entered the stomach;
- Reduce the concentrated content of chemical fluids in the gastrointestinal tract;
- When poison is ingested through intravenous administration.
The use of a probe stomach cleaning is prohibited:
- If large poisonous plants are swallowed;
- The patient has an ulcer or varicose veins of the esophageal veins;
- Previous surgery was performed in the peritoneal region.
Note!
For a patient who has been poisoned with acids, the stomach is washed by probe method no later than 6 hours after poisoning. In case of intoxication with alkalis - no later than 2 hours.
At the time of the procedure, it is important to monitor the ratio of the injected and withdrawn fluid. If it lingers in the stomach, its stagnation will begin, which will lead to a new type of intoxication - water poisoning. This symptom is especially pronounced in children.
Bowel cleansing
First aid for household poisoning without fail involves cleaning the intestines to avoid stagnation of toxins in the organ.
Colon cleansing is carried out in 2 ways:
- With the help of laxative medications;
- With the use of cleansing enemas.
All toxicologists are unanimous that laxatives should be used in case of acute poisoning. An exception is conditions in which the patient has diarrhea or in a dynamic form.
Cleansing with enemas is not as effective as taking laxatives. This is due to the fact that the toxins that are in the upper gastrointestinal tract cannot be removed in this way. Therefore, enemas at the stage of emergency care are ineffective. In a hospital, they are used at the recovery stage, and they use exclusively siphon devices.
The use of enemas is prohibited in 2 cases:
- The patient has tumor processes in the rectum;
- The presence of bleeding from nodes with hemorrhoids.
Sorbents
Sorbents are used to reduce the percentage of absorption of toxins from the stomach and intestines. They actively "collect" the poisons remaining after cleaning organs and remove them together with the feces.
There are many adsorbing drugs, but activated charcoal is recognized as the most popular and effective drug in this group. It is taken orally or injected into a probe fluid. It is known that with repeated dosage of the drug, even toxins that have already entered the bloodstream are removed.
Note!
Activated carbon poorly removes salts of heavy metals, ethanol, acids and alkalis, therefore, in these poisonings, it is replaced with other drugs.
It is forbidden to use activated carbon for patients with impaired functioning of intestinal motility.
Despite the high efficiency of the drug, when using high dosages, the following complications are possible:
- Bowel obstruction;
- Constipation;
- Excessive distension of the stomach.
Antidote therapy
Providing first aid for poisoning involves the use of antidotes that can neutralize a certain type of poison. However, at the present stage of the development of medicine, a small number of specific antidotes are known. Each of them has its own mechanism of action.
It should be emphasized that many antidotes cause serious side effects, therefore, when prescribing them, the risk and benefit for the patient are always correlated. Moreover, the temporary effect of the antidote is always less than the intoxicating effect of the poisons.
Important points
If signs of intoxication of the body in the form of drowsiness, vomiting or nausea appear in a child, you need to determine the cause of the poisoning as soon as possible. Perhaps the baby has eaten the pills of a drug or drank household chemicals. Remember what the baby ate, what dishes could cause poisoning. Your further actions depend on the type of toxic substances that caused the intoxication.
First aid is the same as for an adult. However, it must be remembered that it is impossible to induce vomiting in children under 5 years old. As a cleansing method, they use boiled water, which the baby should drink in small portions. Of the medications, only activated charcoal can be used. All other appointments are made by physicians.
For any kind of poisoning in children, you need to call an ambulance!
