Manifestation of intoxication of the body. Intoxication of the body: causes, types and treatment

Intoxication is a pathological condition in which the body is poisoned by poisons, toxins, medications or pathogenic microorganisms. In this article we looked at what intoxication of the body is, how it can be provoked and what symptoms it manifests.

What is intoxication, what are the reasons for its development?

Intoxication is a broad term that characterizes a pathological process in which poisoning and damage to the body by some dangerous substances occurs. It can be acute or chronic.

The main causes of body intoxication are listed below:

Food poisoning is when toxins from spoiled food enter the body. Any expired products or those stored at the wrong temperature can be dangerous. Dairy, meat, fish and mushroom products are considered especially dangerous. Poor quality food can cause intestinal infections, such as salmonellosis and dysentery. These infectious diseases lead to severe general intoxication of the body and are dangerous to humans.
Drug overdose can occur when any medication is abused. Drug intoxication can lead to rapid death of a person. Its manifestations depend on the type of drug the patient took.
Poisoning by toxic gases (for example, fumes, household gases) occurs when they are inhaled. Toxic substances are absorbed through the alveoli into the blood and affect the entire body.
Accidental or special ingestion of various chemicals, poisons, detergents, acids or alkalis. Such poisoning can occur in a child who decides to taste an unknown substance. Chemical intoxication also occurs in people who decide to commit suicide.
Infectious processes in the body can lead to severe intoxication. Bacteria and viruses produce toxins that poison the body and lead to an intense inflammatory response. Some viruses kill a person's immune system and make him more susceptible to severe intoxication. For example, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus, which belongs to the group of retroviruses) makes a person completely defenseless against various fungi, bacteria and viruses.
Alcohol and its substitutes (methyl alcohol, ethylene glycol). Alcohol poisoning is a severe intoxication condition. The breakdown products that are formed as a result of the neutralization of alcoholic beverages poison the liver, pancreas, and brain tissue. Death occurs when poisoned by alcohol surrogates. Only timely qualified medical assistance can save the injured person.

Chronic intoxication can last for years. Most often it is professional in nature and develops in a person who comes into contact with chemicals on duty. The risk group includes doctors, employees of editorial offices, factories, production facilities, and gas stations.

Please note that smokers suffer from chronic nicotine intoxication. Under the influence of cigarette smoke, irreversible changes in blood vessels, lungs, and nervous tissue gradually increase in their bodies, and malignant neoplasms form.

Main clinical manifestations of acute intoxication

Symptoms of intoxication depend on its cause. In case of acute damage to the body by toxins, symptoms develop quickly, during the first few hours after contact with the toxic substance. Some toxic substances may not act immediately. For example, methyl poisoning can clinically manifest itself within a day. Below we looked at the signs and symptoms of various types of intoxication.

Food poisoning

The first signs of food poisoning develop within the first 6 hours after eating it. Typical symptoms include:

abdominal pain localized in the stomach or intestines. With increased flatulence, intestinal colic develops;
nausea followed by vomiting, bringing temporary relief;
diarrhea. With salmonellosis, the stool is greenish and foamy, and with dysentery, the stool is watery.. You can see mucus and streaks of blood in the stool;
tachycardia - rapid heartbeat;
An increase in body temperature is characteristic of an intestinal infection. It can grow up to 39 degrees;
headache, dizziness and general weakness are characteristic signs of intoxication syndrome.

Drug overdose

Signs of drug intoxication depend on the drug the victim took. Each medicine affects the body differently. Below in the table we have collected the symptoms of drug intoxication in case of poisoning with certain drugs.

Name of the drug/group of drugs	Main symptoms of overdose
Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin, cardiomagnyl)	hypothermia – decreased body temperature; pain in the stomach; vomit; possible development of gastric bleeding, which causes vomiting and dark-colored diarrhea; shortness of breath, in which the respiratory rate exceeds 20 beats/min; disturbance of consciousness and heart function.
Cardiac glycosides (eg, corglycone)	bradycardia – slow heartbeat; sharp cuts and pains throughout the abdomen; nausea and repeated vomiting; diarrhea; slow breathing; drowsiness; When taking a large dose of the drug, cardiac arrest may develop and clinical death may occur.
Sleeping pills, sedatives (for example, phenobarbital, Corvalol, Barboval, phenazepam, donormil)	increased drowsiness, lethargy; slow breathing, palpitations; nausea and vomiting; seizures (as in epilepsy); blood pressure decreases (hypotension); absence of tendon reflexes and pupillary reaction to light; disturbance of consciousness, the patient first falls asleep, then smoothly enters a deep coma. Death develops due to respiratory arrest and cardiac contractility.
Paracetamol (Efferalgan, Panadol)	First, intoxication appears as in food poisoning. The patient develops vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. It is also possible to reduce body temperature to 35 degrees. After 10-12 hours, signs of liver damage appear: pain in the right hypochondrium; yellowness of the skin, conjunctiva and visible mucous membranes; stool disorder. In case of acute intoxication, consciousness, heart function, and breathing may be impaired.
Nitroglycerine	Strong headache; decreased blood pressure; dizziness; nausea and vomiting that does not bring relief; pale skin, blue discoloration of the nasolabial triangle, limbs; coldness of hands and feet; loss of consciousness, coma.
No-shpa (drotaverine)	cardiac dysfunction, arrhythmia; a sharp drop in blood pressure; darkening of the eyes, dizziness; headache; nausea and vomiting; shortness of breath of a mixed nature; disturbance of consciousness.
Antibiotics	An overdose of antibacterial drugs causes symptoms similar to food poisoning. Against this background, acute renal and liver failure and allergic reactions may develop.

Please note that you can be poisoned by any medicine. Even vitamins are dangerous if consumed in large quantities. When the condition worsens after taking a drug in large quantities, drug intoxication should first be suspected.

Signs of gas intoxication

With gas poisoning of the body, symptoms develop quickly, within the first 10-15 minutes. The rate of their increase depends on the concentration of toxic gas in the air.

In case of carbon monoxide or household monoxide poisoning, the following symptoms may develop:

sensation of pain in the eyes, lacrimation;
sore throat, dry cough;
breathing problems, it becomes faster, more superficial, shortness of breath develops;
feeling of lack of air;
pale skin;
tachycardia;
nausea and vomiting;
chest pain;
headache, dizziness;
convulsive syndrome;
loss of consciousness, falling into a coma.

Intoxication with acids and alkalis

Poisoning with acids or alkalis is characterized by immediate onset of symptoms. These chemicals cause deep burns of the mucous membrane of the mouth, esophagus and stomach. Due to deep damage to the walls of these organs, gastrointestinal bleeding may develop.

First, a poisoned person experiences severe pain along the esophagus and in the stomach area. Then the standard signs of intoxication develop: headache, nausea, diarrhea.

If poisoning provokes gastrointestinal bleeding, the patient experiences vomiting and dark diarrhea, the skin turns pale, tachycardia, hypotension, and shortness of breath occur.

Alcohol poisoning develops when the concentration of alcohol in the blood increases above 2 g/l or through accidental consumption of alcohol substitutes. Alcohol intoxication is fatal to humans. The lethal dose of alcohol varies from person to person. The worse the patient’s liver and kidneys work, the more harm alcohol causes to the body.

Symptoms of alcohol intoxication develop during the first 4-6 hours after drinking alcohol. First, signs of food poisoning develop, then symptoms of damage to the central nervous system and internal organs appear. The patient may experience hallucinations and convulsions.

With toxic damage to the liver, jaundice increases and pain appears in the right hypochondrium.

Please note that when poisoned with methyl alcohol, visual acuity decreases, spots and sparks appear before the eyes. If left untreated, total damage to the optic nerve occurs and blindness occurs.

How is the diagnosis made and the type of intoxication determined?

Intoxication is a very general concept, and for a doctor to prescribe the correct etiological treatment, it is necessary to identify its cause. The diagnosis is made by a doctor after a detailed history, examination and examination of the patient. It is very important to tell your doctor the following facts:

having had contact with an infectious patient over the past few weeks (the incubation period of some infections can be long);
time of appearance of the first symptoms of the disease;
what could have caused the disease (you need to tell the doctor what you ate and consumed recently, what medications you took);
the presence of chronic diseases (for example, diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome, etc.);
recent infectious diseases.

Please note that if you are allergic to any medications or food components, you must inform your doctor.

To make an accurate diagnosis, identify the causative agent of complications and to assess the patient’s condition, additional laboratory and instrumental examination of the patient may be required. If the patient's condition is serious, diagnosis is carried out in parallel with first aid.

List of diagnostic techniques that may be required to make a diagnosis of intoxication:

A general detailed blood test helps to identify a bacterial or viral infection, helminthic infestation, and anemia. Also, this study can help to suspect an oncological process in the body, since it is characterized by an increase in ROE above 40 mm/sec;
a general urine test is necessary to detect acute or chronic renal failure, pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis;
a biochemical blood test is carried out to determine water and electrolyte abnormalities in the blood, damage to the liver, kidneys, pancreas;
bacteriological culture of stool is carried out to diagnose intestinal infection;
ultrasound examination of internal organs is needed to identify pathologies of the liver, gall bladder, kidneys and pancreas;
electrocardiography is performed to determine the performance of the heart and to diagnose rhythm deviations and myocardial ischemia;
spirometry is a diagnostic method that helps identify breathing pathologies. It is carried out in case of gas poisoning and damage to the respiratory system;
gastroscopy - examination of the mucous membrane of the stomach, esophagus and duodenum using a gastroscope. This study is indicated for poisoning with acids, alkalis and the development of gastrointestinal poisoning;
blood test for toxins, determination of alcohol level.

Possible complications of body intoxication

In case of severe poisoning with toxins, severe disturbances in the functioning of the entire body can develop., vital organs and systems are affected. The following are the complications that accompany severe intoxication of the body:

Dehydration, electrolyte and acid-base imbalance develops as a result of repeated vomiting and diarrhea. The patient experiences heart rhythm disturbances, shortness of breath, decreased skin elasticity, and sunken eyeballs.
Infectious-toxic shock (ITSH) develops when the body is severely damaged by toxins and/or infections. With ITS, the temperature rises, the pressure drops, tachycardia develops, and consciousness may be impaired. The adrenal glands are primarily affected.
Gastrointestinal bleeding can complicate alcohol intoxication, poisoning with medications, alkalis and acids. Manifested by dark vomiting and diarrhea, abdominal pain, impaired consciousness, pallor, hypotension, tachycardia.
Acute pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas due to damage to toxins. This pathology can only be treated surgically, as it causes necrotic death of part of the pancreas. The patient experiences acute girdling pain in the abdomen, the skin near the navel becomes covered with hemorrhagic spots, uncontrollable vomiting develops, and the body temperature rises to 39-40 degrees.
Acute renal failure occurs when the kidneys are damaged by toxins, and develops from poisoning with surrogates of alcohol, chemicals, and some medications. The patient may experience anuria - a decrease in the amount of urine to 50 ml/day. Swelling also develops throughout the body, the person feels nauseous, his blood pressure rises, and his skin turns yellow.
Acute liver failure is manifested by jaundice and pain in the right hypochondrium. It is possible to fall into a coma and develop hepatic encephalopathy.

What to do in case of acute intoxication

With the development of acute intoxication of any etiology you need to immediately call an ambulance. While waiting for doctors to arrive, you should begin to provide the patient with first aid. Its main components are briefly listed below:

Stop contact with the toxic substance. If the patient is in a smoky room, he must be taken out into fresh air. In case of poisoning, gastric lavage should be performed in order to remove toxins from it (this procedure is not carried out in case of bloody or dark vomiting, poisoning with alkalis and acids, or impaired consciousness of the victim). To cleanse the stomach, you need to drink a liter of water in one gulp and throw it up.
In case of food, alcohol or drug poisoning, a cleansing enema based on plain water should be performed.
Give the patient sorbents (if there are no signs of internal bleeding). You can use any drugs from this group of drugs (for example, enterosgel, activated carbon, polysorb). Before taking medications, carefully read the instructions.
Give the poisoned person water to drink (if he is conscious and does not have dark vomit). If you have gas poisoning, you can give him sweet tea or milk.
If signs of gastrointestinal bleeding develop, do not give the patient anything to drink or take. Place an ice pack on his stomach. Cold will cause vasospasm and reduce the amount of blood loss.

Further treatment is carried out by doctors. SPM doctors will provide first aid to the victim and take him to the nearest hospital for further treatment and examination. The length of hospital stay depends on the patient’s condition and positive dynamics in response to therapy.

In some cases, the patient is given antidotes of the substance with which he was poisoned. For example, when using methyl alcohol, ethyl helps. In case of poisoning with poisons, drugs, or chemicals, hemodialysis may be required - blood purification using an artificial kidney. In case of acute pancreatitis or internal bleeding, surgical intervention is indicated.

Intoxication of the body can be caused by many reasons and factors. Clinical manifestations depend on the substance or microorganism that provoked its development. Treatment of intoxication syndrome should be carried out by qualified physicians in a hospital setting. Self-medication can lead to disability or death.

Intoxication of the body is the poisoning of living tissues by harmful substances. Due to the fact that death can occur with an excessive dose of toxic substances, immediate medical attention is necessary. Treatment of intoxication of the body begins with measures to stop the access of toxic components.

There are exogenous and endogenous intoxication. In the first case, toxins enter internal systems from the outside. In the second, metabolic products are produced by the body itself. Endogenous intoxication usually occurs against the background of some inflammatory process (for example, peritonitis, extensive burns, acute pancreatitis, chronic constipation).

Signs of poisoning appear depending on the type of toxin, the degree of damage to the body, the presence of susceptible receptors and the intensity of the immune system response. Main symptoms of intoxication:

headaches, joint and muscle pain;
increased body temperature;
diarrhea, vomiting, other gastrointestinal disorders;
fainting, coma (in difficult cases);
feeling very tired, drowsiness;
dysfunction of the liver and other organs.

These disorders characterize acute intoxication. Chronic intoxication is manifested by other signs:

chronic fatigue;
increased irritability, depression, regular headaches;
state of drowsiness or, on the contrary, insomnia;
change in body weight.

These symptoms often occur after insufficiently competent treatment of acute intoxication or as a result of regular self-poisoning of the body, when self-purification mechanisms are disrupted. In the second case, skin rashes (furunculosis, acne, dermatitis) and decreased immune defense are additionally observed, which leads to the frequent development of bacterial and viral infections.

The causes of poisoning are different:

Separately, it is worth noting the intoxication that develops during pregnancy. The processes occurring in a woman’s body during this period, changes in the tissues of the uterus often lead to toxicosis. Excellent results in the fight against such disorders are demonstrated by decoctions of medicinal herbs (chamomile, mint, rose hips, tansy), as well as folic acid. Before treating the pathology yourself, you need to consult a gynecologist. Before taking medications, you must ensure that there are no contraindications.

Treatment for toxin poisoning

The need to consult a medical specialist is determined individually in each case. If the pathological changes are widespread and are accompanied by symptoms such as a significant increase in temperature, fainting, confusion, severe vomiting, it is necessary to urgently call a doctor at home. Removal of the adsorbed toxin in life-threatening cases is carried out using hemodialysis (blood purification by an extrarenal method) or accelerated diuresis. The general treatment program includes the following measures:

taking adsorbents and antidotes (if indicated);
gastric lavage if drug poisoning occurs;
increasing the volume of fluid consumed;
taking the drugs Regidron and Gastrolit, which prevent dehydration, restore water and electrolyte balance and provide protection for the damaged mucous membrane of the digestive tract.

The diet for intoxication consists of vegetable puree soups, boiled, mashed porridges, curd soufflés and casseroles. You can eat baked fruits, crackers, and drink herbal infusions. In case of acute food poisoning, you need to exclude meat, dairy, sweet, sour foods, and spices from your diet. For minor manifestations of poisoning, it is advisable to use various remedies at home. Restoring the functions of all systems and organs is of great importance (the liver suffers especially during intoxication).

Treatment of pathology with traditional methods

In case of intoxication of the body, treatment with traditional medicine is indicated in cases of chronic or mild disease. In combination with drugs and methods of traditional medicine, folk remedies increase the effectiveness of therapy and significantly speed up the healing process. To quickly get rid of the consequences of intoxication, use folk recipes:

The course of procedures is designed for at least two weeks and can last several months. Traditional healers' recipes are based on the use of ingredients of natural origin. Home remedies, if the dosage is observed, are safe for the patient and are approved for use for a long time.

Intoxication of the body can occur for many reasons. Her treatment is carried out in a hospital setting or at home. In this article, we looked at how to relieve intoxication at home, what medications can be used before the doctor arrives, and in what situations it is necessary to hospitalize the patient in the hospital.

How does intoxication of the body manifest itself?

The cause of intoxication syndrome can be microbes, toxins, chemicals, food, medications, toxic gases, etc. Dangerous substances enter the body through the digestive tract, respiratory system, skin or mucous membranes. Clinical manifestations depend on the type and amount of the toxin, the method of its penetration, and the individual characteristics of the poisoned person.

Please note that poisoning from chemicals and medications often occurs in young children who like to taste and put into their mouths everything they see around them. They mistake cleaning solutions for sweet drinks, and multi-colored tablets seem like delicious candies to them.

Poisoning of the body can be acute or chronic. With immediate massive contact with the toxin, acute damage to the body develops. Chronic intoxication develops through daily contact with a toxic substance. For example, when working with heavy metals.

Intoxication of the body can be manifested by symptoms and clinical signs listed below.

General intoxication syndrome. It is characterized by increased body temperature, headache, general weakness, aches in muscles and joints. The stronger the poisoning, the more pronounced these manifestations are. Some intoxication conditions are characterized by a sharp increase in temperature (for example, in case of poisoning with sleeping pills, salts of heavy metals), and some occur against the background of unchanged body temperature (for example, mild food poisoning).
Disorders of the digestive system. A poisoned person may develop nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, intestinal colic, abdominal pain, heartburn, and flatulence.
Damage to the respiratory system, which most often develops due to inhalation of toxins. A person may have a dry cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, and chest pain.
Disorders of the cardiovascular system. Depending on the type and amount of the toxin, hypotension (a drop in blood pressure) or hypertension (an increase in blood pressure) may develop, and the pulse may slow down or increase in frequency.
Damage to the central nervous system is manifested by the appearance of hallucinations, general convulsions, impaired consciousness, and falling into a deep coma. The nervous system suffers from the abuse of alcohol, drugs, poisonous mushrooms, etc.

Please note that each type of intoxication has its own clinical picture. If the patient is not feeling well, the possible cause of intoxication should be clarified, for example, taking a large amount of medication. This information will further help doctors when providing first aid.

How can you help a patient yourself if intoxication develops?

Intoxication of the body and household poisoning should be treated under the supervision of a qualified specialist. By self-medicating and following the advice of relatives, friends or information obtained from the Internet, you risk not only the patient’s health, but also his life. Only a doctor can objectively assess the condition of a poisoned person and prescribe the necessary therapy.

When the first signs of acute poisoning or intoxication appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. If the patient’s condition worsens sharply, symptoms increase quickly, you need to call an ambulance. If a person is feeling relatively normal, for example, with mild food poisoning, you can independently consult a doctor at a clinic or hospital.

Remember that in case of poisoning with mushrooms, canned food, drugs, gases, detergents, paints, chemicals, you should urgently call an emergency medical team.

While waiting for the doctors to arrive, we can try to independently reduce or remove the intoxication of the body. In cases of severe poisoning, the patient’s life often depends on first aid. Below are its main components.

Stopping contact with the toxic agent

If a person is in a smoky room or in an environment with polluted air, he should be removed from there immediately.

Stomach cleansing

Flushing the gastric cavity helps get rid of residual toxins that have not had time to be digested or absorbed into the bloodstream.

The patient should drink a large amount of plain water in one gulp and induce vomiting. This procedure is not carried out independently at home in the following cases:

when black or bloody vomit appears. This symptom is a sign of gastrointestinal bleeding. In this condition, you cannot rinse the stomach or give the patient anything to drink or take;
in case of impaired consciousness of the patient or severe alcohol intoxication;
in case of poisoning with acids or alkalis. In this condition, gastric lavage is carried out through a tube and done by doctors.

Enema

A cleansing enema helps relieve intoxication. It can be used to remove bacteria, toxins and poisons from the body. Colon cleansing is carried out using boiled water. Its temperature should be room temperature. The enema should be repeated several times. The criterion for effective bowel cleansing is the appearance of clean rinsing water.

Taking drugs from the group of sorbents

Medicines in this group help relieve diarrhea and reduce intoxication syndrome. Once in the digestive system, they adsorb all toxins and poisons.

Please note that sorbents are drugs that must be available in every home medicine cabinet. Check their expiration date periodically. After this period, medications become dangerous and ineffective.

You can use any representatives of sorbents, for example:

atoxyl;
polysorb;
Activated carbon;
enterosgel;
smecta;
sorbex.

The dosage of the drugs is indicated in the instructions. It should be read carefully before taking the sorbent.

Drink

Liquid is necessary to accelerate the elimination of toxins, reduce dehydration and intoxication. All drinks should be non-carbonated and at room temperature. You are allowed to drink plain water, alkaline mineral water, and sweet black tea.

Treatment of intoxication at home

Mild intoxication can be treated at home. The doctor describes in detail to the patient the scheme and duration of treatment, diet, regimen. It is prohibited to change its purpose on your own. The types and quantities of medications and diet depend on the etiology of intoxication and the toxic substance.

Severe poisonings are treated in the infectious diseases or toxicology department. Patients in critical condition are placed in intensive care wards and intensive care units. The success of treatment depends on the timeliness of seeking medical help.

Treatment of intoxication syndrome at home may include the following components:

dietary food;
bed rest;
drinking plenty of water;
sorbents;
antacids;
enzymes;
antibacterial drugs;
antispasmodics;
antipyretics;
antiemetics.

Treatment of intoxication at home can only be carried out under the supervision of a doctor. Self-medication can be not only ineffective, but also dangerous for the poisoned person. When the first clinical signs of the disease appear, you should seek medical help. The prognosis for the patient largely depends on timely access to a doctor and on the correct first aid provided to him. With the help of gastric lavage, enemas and sorbents, most toxins can be removed and the patient’s condition can be significantly improved, and these procedures also contribute to a complete and rapid recovery.

Intoxication is poisoning of the body (literally “poison inside”). According to statistics, 95% of such cases are associated with contamination of the colon. Intoxication of the body can occur due to the prolonged presence of viruses and bacteria in the intestines (this is explained by the fact that part of the fecal matter is not excreted, but is deposited in internal pockets), adherence to strict diets, nervous disorders, and strong physical exertion. As a rule, it occurs when a sudden change in weight occurs (that is, metabolic processes in the body are disrupted). Intoxication of the body, the symptoms of which we will consider below, leads to an exacerbation of existing diseases in a person and causes relapses.

Types of toxins

Substances that cause poisoning are divided into two groups:

exotoxins (enter the body from the outside, that is, with food, water, air, they can be both natural and chemical);
endotoxins (caused by internal metabolic disorders).

Types of intoxication

Intoxication of the body, the symptoms of which are somewhat similar to other diseases, can be of the following types:

Acute (occurs when the body is attacked by a large number of exotoxins). With this form, all symptoms are exacerbated.
Subacute (the first type has subsided or the presence of fewer toxins in the body).
Chronic (toxins have an effect over a long period of time, such as a month, a year; the most common examples are smoking, alcohol and drugs).

Signs of body intoxication

With cancer and mercury intoxication, central nervous system disorders, hormonal imbalances, problems with the cardiovascular system, and so on are also observed.

Treatment

Intoxication of the body, the symptoms of which we discussed above, is eliminated by removing toxins. When a person is completely healthy, this process is carried out independently thanks to the kidneys, liver, skin and lungs. If a decrease in immunity has already occurred, then with a diagnosis of “intoxication of the body,” treatment will be prescribed by a doctor. Detoxification includes the use of emetics, choleretic, adsorbent, laxatives and enveloping drugs. The duration of treatment will depend on the condition in which the person sought help. In the early stages, when the intoxication of the body (we indicated the symptoms above) is weak, it is much easier to cope with harmful substances. Therefore, if you suddenly notice the previously discussed signs, then immediately consult a doctor.