POISONING AND POISON INFORMATION CENTRES
Definition of Poisoning:
- Harmful effects caused by toxic substances entering the body
- Can occur through ingestion, inhalation, or absorption
- Effect depends on dose and exposure time
Types of Poisoning
Ingested Poisoning:
- Causes: Household chemicals, pesticides, drug overdose, spoiled food
- Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness
- Treatment: Activated charcoal, antidotes, supportive care
Inhaled Poisoning:
- Symptoms: Headache, weakness, confusion, breathing difficulty
- Treatment: Oxygen therapy, hyperbaric oxygen
Food Poisoning:
- Cause: Contaminated food
- Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, fever
- Treatment: Fluids, antibiotics if needed
Injected Poisoning:
- Sources: Insect stings, snake bites
- Treatment: Antihistamines, anti-snake venom
Insecticide Poisoning:
- Agents: DDT, organophosphates
- Symptoms: Convulsions, breathing difficulty
- Treatment: Atropine, pralidoxime
Heavy Metal Poisoning:
- Metals: Lead, mercury, arsenic
- Symptoms: Neurological effects, organ damage
- Treatment: Chelation therapy (EDTA, dimercaprol)
Narcotic Poisoning:
- Examples: Opium, cocaine
- Symptoms: CNS depression, coma
- Treatment: Naloxone, supportive care
General Treatment of Poisoning
- Remove unabsorbed poison: Gastric lavage, washing, fresh air
- Remove absorbed poison: Diuretics, dialysis
- Use antidotes: Neutralize poison
Common Antidotes:
- Acetylcysteine → Paracetamol poisoning
- Atropine → Organophosphorus poisoning
- Naloxone → Opioid poisoning
- EDTA → Lead poisoning
- Dimercaprol → Arsenic, mercury
Universal Antidote:
- Activated charcoal
- Tannic acid
- Magnesium oxide
Used in general poisoning cases.
Drug Information Centre (DIC)
- Provides drug-related information
- Promotes rational drug use
- Supports clinical decisions
Resources of DIC:
- Primary: Research journals
- Secondary: Databases (PubMed, Embase)
- Tertiary: Textbooks, drug references
Poison Information Centre (PIC)
- Provides guidance for poisoning cases
- Reduces mortality and improves treatment
- Educates public and healthcare professionals
Functions of PIC:
- Provide poison information
- Assist in treatment
- Conduct toxicology analysis
- Public awareness programs
Dr. Saint Paul is a pharmacy educator, Pharm.D graduate, and academic content creator from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Kakinada (JNTUK), where he completed his Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) degree between 2015 and 2021.
He has more than 7 years of experience creating pharmacy educational content, writing study materials, and reviewing academic articles for pharmacy students. He has also contributed guest articles to pharmacy education platforms, including PharmD Guru.
At D.PharmGuru, his work focuses on simplifying complex Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharmacy) subjects into easy-to-understand notes, practical explanations, and exam-oriented educational resources for students across India.
His areas of focus include Human Anatomy and Physiology, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy, and other core D.Pharmacy subjects.
