Symptoms of poisoning are quite diverse and vary depending on the type and amount of poison and the person’s age, weight and general health. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, and skin rash or rash. In cases of chemical or drug poisoning, symptoms may appear even within minutes after the poison enters the body. It may sometimes take longer for symptoms to appear in herbal or animal poisoning.
What is poisoning?
Poisoning is a health problem that occurs as a result of a harmful substance entering the body. This condition can be caused by chemicals, medications, foods, plants or animals. Symptoms of poisoning include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, shortness of breath and loss of consciousness.
What are the symptoms of poisoning?
Poisoning is a disease caused by exposure of the body to toxins or harmful substances. Poisoning can occur through food, water, air or skin contact. Although it is difficult to tell clear signs of poisoning, the following symptoms usually occur:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomach ache
- Headache
- dizziness
- Tiredness
- muscle weakness
- speech disorder
- Defect of vision
- Loss of consciousness
Food poisoning is one of the most common types of poisoning. Symptoms of food poisoning usually appear within a few hours to 72 hours after consumption. The most common food poisoning symptoms are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dehydration, fever, cramps.
How long does it take for symptoms of poisoning to appear?
Generally, symptoms of poisoning can appear anywhere from 30 minutes to 72 hours. Here are some common types of poisoning and how long it takes for symptoms to appear:
- Food poisoning usually occurs within 30 minutes to 6 hours, in some cases it can last up to 72 hours.
- Chemical poisoning may occur immediately or after a few hours, depending on the type of exposure.
- Mushroom poisoning occurs within 6 to 24 hours.
How is poisoning treated?
The first thing to do in case of poisoning is to determine the substance that caused the poisoning. It is vital to collect information about the source of the poison, if possible, and provide it to healthcare professionals. A person showing symptoms of poisoning should be taken to the emergency room immediately or call the emergency line and seek professional help. Interventions such as forcing the person to vomit or giving water if unconscious may make the situation worse. Treatment of poisoning depends on the cause and severity of poisoning. However, after the poisoning is over, here are the things you can do at home:
- Drink plenty of water, drinks containing electrolytes (e.g., oral rehydration solution), or soup to replace fluid and electrolytes lost through diarrhea and vomiting.
- Eat light foods such as bananas, rice, applesauce and toast until your stomach feels comfortable.
- Rest.
- For the medications your doctor will prescribe.
If you have had food poisoning, you should be more careful. Mild cases of food poisoning usually resolve on their own within a few days. In the meantime, here are some food poisoning treatment tips you can do to help you recover:
- consuming plenty of fluids
- eat light
- To relax
In case of poisoning, if your fever is above 38°C, bloody diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, dry mouth, dizziness, less urination, vomiting that you cannot control, or diarrhea and vomiting that lasts longer than 48 hours, be sure to consult a doctor.
This content should not be considered medical advice.