As a result of the ingestion of various toxic and / or toxic substances into the body, a disorder of the human vital organs occurs, defined in medical terminology as poisoning.
What to do in case of poisoning at home, and what types of intoxication damage to the body exist in general, this is what this article will be about. Doctor of Medical Sciences, gastroenterologist V. B. Golovchansky kindly agreed to consult us.
- Vasily Borisovich, what types of disorders are there in general, and what should be done in case of poisoning?
- Before answering your question, it is worth deciding whether it is poisoning, intoxication or an infectious lesion. According to the symptomatic signs, these three concepts are very similar to each other, but differ in the methods of treatment. Naturally, any therapeutic measures should be carried out in specialized medical institutions. However, if a person does not have the opportunity to see a doctor due to various circumstances, then it is a mild form of poisoning that can be treated at home.
– Let's take a simple example, a person, some time after eating, felt bad. What to do in case of food poisoning?
– There are general principles for the treatment of food poisoning. First of all, this is the restoration of the active functioning of the intestines and the entire gastrointestinal tract as a whole, the elimination of intoxication by removing harmful substances from the body and the prevention of dehydration. If this is not an intestinal infection, then treatment should begin with washing the stomach and intestines. To do this, at the first stage, it will be enough to drink 300-500 ml of a weak solution of potassium permanganate, which will cause a gag reflex and cleanse the stomach of harmful impurities. If you assume that the source of poisoning was, for example, mushrooms, then the best option is to immediately contact the doctors.
Food poisoning: treatment at home
What to do with food poisoning? There are many answers to this question in traditional medicine. With a mild course of food intoxication, after gastric lavage, in order to restore the healthy functionality of the gastrointestinal tract, the following home treatment recipes can be offered:
- Decoction of cinnamon. Half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon is poured into 200 ml of boiling water and infused for 15 minutes. After straining, the remedy is ready for use. Take in small portions. Cinnamon has natural antispasmodic properties and is a natural sorbent.
- A decoction of dill and honey. A teaspoon of dill seeds is poured with a glass of boiling water and infused for 5-6 minutes, after which a teaspoon of natural honey is added. Everything is mixed and taken in one go. Dill removes toxins, and honey keeps calcium from being washed out of the body during vomiting.
- Lemon juice. Drink freshly squeezed juice from 3-4 lemons in one gulp. This will ensure that the body does not spread bacteria after food poisoning.
- Vasily Borisovich, it is possible that the woman got food poisoning during pregnancy. What to do in this case, and how will it affect the health of the unborn child?
- Cases of food poisoning in women during pregnancy are quite common. As a rule, a woman during this period pays special attention to her nutrition, but incidents also happen. The cause of this condition is low-quality or expired products, as well as food contaminated with various bacteria and / or toxins. The risk group includes all dairy and sour-milk products, as well as vegetables and fruits affected by bacteria, and all types of mushrooms, including edible ones. I hope that our readers do not consume mushrooms during pregnancy, as this is prohibited. The symptomatic signs of food poisoning in pregnant women are no different from "normal" people. The only thing that should worry the expectant mother is the possibility of a miscarriage with severe intoxication. I would not recommend pregnant women to use non-medical methods of treatment, and even more so treated with folk methods. The correct way out is urgent hospitalization and diagnosis of the condition in a medical institution.
- Vasily Borisovich, and if a child is poisoned, what should parents do in this case?
- The causative agents of food poisoning in children are all the same toxins that, when multiplying in the intestines, cause inflammation and swelling of the mucous membrane. As a result, children begin to have diarrhea, the body becomes lethargic, dizzy, sick, and even the temperature rises when poisoned. What to do in this case? I recommend starting treatment with an ambulance call. Only after examining the doctor and determining the child's condition and severity, we can talk about further treatment. If the doctor advises hospitalization, then do not resist it. For mild forms of poisoning, the doctor will recommend appropriate home treatment according to the age of the child.
First aid for food poisoning in children
As soon as parents discover even the slightest suspicion of poisoning in their child, an ambulance should be called immediately. Before the arrival of the doctor, it is recommended to give the child plenty of fluids. The baby should be given a special solution to drink, this is water and salt. This combination will cause vomiting in the child, and possibly improve his condition somewhat. After examining the child, the ambulance doctor will give appropriate recommendations. As a rule, if the condition of the child does not cause concern, then the doctor will recommend home treatment. In addition to drinking and washing the stomach and / or intestines in the form of an enema, it is necessary to control body temperature. If the thermometer scale shows 38º C, then the heat must be brought down. For this, there are special rectal suppositories, for example, cefekon or efferalgan. More detailed advice can be obtained at any pharmacy. It is better to restore the health of the gastrointestinal tract with the help of special pharmacological medicines for children.
- Vasily Borisovich, there is such a thing as alcohol poisoning. What to do at home, how to treat alcohol intoxication?
- First of all, you should have a culture of drinking. First aid must be provided even before the onset of the stage of intoxication. For this you need:
- Stop the flow of toxic substances into the body.
- Induce vomiting and cleanse the stomach of alcohol-containing substances as much as possible.
- Provide the person with access to fresh air.
- To prevent the reabsorption of toxins into the blood, it is necessary to supply the body with enterosorbents, such as activated charcoal.
If you do not react in time, then there may be a threat of an alcoholic coma, which, with a large amount of ethanol in the blood, can be fatal.
What to do with alcohol poisoning: signs and treatment
Symptoms of alcohol intoxication appear as the body is saturated with ethanol. A person has clouding in the eyes, euphoria begins, motor and emotional excitability becomes more active. In addition, communication with others is categorical. Often, alcohol poisoning is reflected in the condition of the skin. This is especially evident in the face and neck. Vomiting is a defensive reaction of the body to alcohol poisoning. What to do at home if there is no way to provide qualified medical care? The following therapeutic and preventive measures can be added to the recommendations of Dr. V. B. Golovchansky:
- After the gastric lavage is done, it is necessary to lay the person on his side. It should be ensured that the "patient" is lying on his back, as there is a high probability of saliva and / or vomit residues leaking into the respiratory tract.
- Try to bring the person to their senses. For this, ammonia is perfect. Having soaked a cotton swab in an alcohol liquid, you need to bring the “medicine” to the person’s nose.
- If the “patient” comes to his senses and an adequate state returns to him, then a few glasses of warm water with a diluted teaspoon of soda will help him once again induce vomiting and dull alcohol poisoning a little.
What to do if a person does not come to his senses after several attempts to restore his condition? First of all, it is necessary to call an ambulance, then, laying the person on his side, ensure the unhindered work of the respiratory tract, stimulate it with ammonia only if the person loses consciousness. More frequent inhalation of vapors can lead to burns of the mucous membranes. The further fate of a person depends entirely on his physical endurance, the physiological characteristics of the body and the speed of response of medical workers.
- Vasily Borisovich, if a person shows a weakness for alcohol-containing drinks, more serious types of poisoning are possible. What should be done in case of methanol poisoning, for example?
Indeed, such a threat exists. Methyl alcohol, which is used in technical needs, as various chemical solvents, has a characteristic smell of alcohol, which is no different from its ethyl counterpart. However, it contains dangerous and toxic impurities that pose a threat to human life. Penetrating into the body, methanol (CH3OH) forms formic acid and formaldehyde, which have a destructive effect on the liver, heart, kidneys and other vital organs. However, methanol poisoning can also occur in production. It is no coincidence that in the manufacture of various dyes, varnishes and solvents, chemical industry workers use special means of protecting the respiratory tract and mucous surfaces.
- Vasily Borisovich, what are the symptoms of methanol poisoning, and is it possible to treat poisoning at home?
- A characteristic sign of poisoning is a partial loss of focus of vision. A person after 6-8 hours begins to feel weak, there are ripples in the eyes and clouding. All surrounding contours of objects become blurry. In addition to headache, there is a convulsive condition of the lower and upper extremities. Without qualified help, a person is doomed to a painful death. Therefore, it is not at all necessary to talk about some methods of home treatment.
- Vasily Borisovich, the question is rather a joke, how to make a poisoning potion?
- Then I will also answer jokingly, read books about witches and sorcerers.
Prevention of poisoning
The philosophy of the concept of food poisoning prevention should be based on the elimination of the cause-and-effect factor and conditions that contribute to the emergence and spread of food poisoning. The basic principles of measures to prevent intestinal infections should be based on the following rules:
- neutralization of potentially harmful in the epidemic sense of food;
- prevention of toxic formation and prevention of reproduction of microorganisms;
- isolation of infectious pathogens as a source of infection.
To prevent possible non-bacterial poisoning, the following conditions are necessary:
- observance of sanitary standards during the use of dishes;
- personal hygiene;
- proper storage of food;
- heat treatment of fruits and vegetables before consumption.
To avoid alcohol poisoning, there are similar precautions that have a narrower focus:
- it is not recommended to drink alcoholic products on an empty stomach, as well as in large doses;
- alcohol-containing drinks should not be abused in acute and chronic diseases of the cardiovascular and digestive systems;
- during the treatment of diseases with pharmacological agents, alcohol should also be abandoned;
- consume only proven and high-quality drinks that have an appropriate quality certificate from regulated bodies;
- after drinking alcohol, you should have a good snack.
The best prevention of alcohol intoxication is to avoid drinking alcohol.
Take care of yourself and be always healthy!
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