Poisoning in humans can be caused due to food, alcohol, or other contaminants present in the water, food, or air.
Poison is any substance which is harmful for the body. It can enter through a person’s body by various means. A person can inhale it, inject it, swallow it, or absorb it through their skin. Poisoning can occur due to overdose of illegal drugs or overdose of prescribed or over-the-counter medicines. Poisoning can also occur due to inhaling of carbon monoxide from gas appliances. Household products like furniture polish or laundry powder are also poisonous. Certain plants and metals like lead and mercury are also poisonous.
The dangers of poisoning can be short-term illness leading to nausea and vomiting to brain damage or serious ones like coma and in certain cases death. To prevent any kind of poisoning one should store the products exactly the way their labels mention. Also, poisonous products should be kept out of reach of children.
Symptoms of Food Poisoning
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Severe headache
- Sudden and severe diarrhea
- Sudden unexplained fever which is often accompanied by some other symptom
- Muscle ache
- Feeling very weak and tired for no apparent reason
Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning
- Confusion, stupor
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Very slow breathing (less than eight breaths in a minute)
- Irregular breathing
- Pale skin or blue-tinged skin
- Low body temperature
- Passing out or losing consciousness
Symptoms of Mercury Poisoning
If a person breathes mercury, the symptoms will be –
- Metallic taste
- Vomiting
- Difficulty while breathing
- Bad cough
- Swollen and bleeding gums
When inorganic mercury is swallowed the symptoms depend on the amount which is swallowed. The symptoms can be –
- Burning sensation in the throat and stomach
- Bloody diarrhea
- Vomiting
If a person has been exposed to small amounts of organic mercury daily for years, then he/she will show symptoms after a while. Long-term exposure to organic mercury causes neurological mercury poisoning symptoms like –
- Inability to walk properly
- Numbness or pain on certain part of the skin
- Shaking or tremors which are uncontrollable
- Double vision or blindness
- Certain memory-related problems
- In case of large exposure, it may lead to seizures and death
Symptoms of Sun Poisoning
- Tender or red skin
- Red skin rash
- Skin itching
- Small to large water-filled blisters
- Fever
- Chills
- Flu-like symptoms
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Dehydration
- Fluid loss and electrolyte imbalance
Symptoms of Arsenic Poisoning
Short-term (acute) arsenic poisoning can cause:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Cough
- Headache
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Shaking
Long-term (chronic) poisoning symptoms in human beings due to arsenic are:
- Skin pigmentation
- Numbness
- Diabetes
- Vascular disease
- Cardiovascular disease
Symptoms of Salmonella Poisoning
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomach pain
- Fever
- Chills
- Muscle pain
The treatment of poisoning depends upon the type of poison absorbed by the person. If you suspect somebody has been poisoned, then call your local poison control center right away to seek medical help.
Disclaimer: This HealthHearty article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.