Paint poisoning of a child and an adult: signs, consequences

Paint poisoning is one of the most common pathologies that causes numerous serious conditions and deaths. Poisonings are becoming more and more common, despite the fact that paints and paints and varnishes are highly toxic, which is known to almost everyone, including children. Most often, people get poisoned completely unexpectedly by inhaling fumes. The danger is that a person does not feel either the smell or the first signs of poisoning, after which severe intoxication occurs. The severity of poisoning can vary.

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Epidemiology

According to statistics, the symptoms of paint poisoning are no different from the symptoms of other poisonings. For example, in all 100% of cases, severe intoxication of the body develops, which is accompanied by such typical symptoms as dizziness, headache, diarrhea and vomiting, irritation of the mucous membrane.

It is known that in 72% of cases the cause of poisoning is non-observance of safety precautions, irresponsible attitude to varnish and paint works. It is also known that chronic intoxications that accompany a person's professional activity are observed in about 25% of cases.

The remaining 3% are accidental poisonings, use of dye for the purpose of committing suicide. Poisonings during hairdressing services, when visiting beauty salons, spas, where various hair dyes are used, occur in approximately 0.85% of cases. When turning to professional stylists and hairdressers, poisoning occurs approximately 3-4 times less often than when dyeing hair at home.

In about 25% of cases, anaphylactic shock develops, in 30% the pathology proceeds with signs of sharp, acute intoxication and in about 35% of cases a delayed reaction is observed, which is nevertheless very dangerous. First of all, it is dangerous because of its complications.

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Causes paint poisoning

There may be many reasons for poisoning. For example, a person working with paint may inhale an excessive amount of it, thereby provoking intoxication processes in the body. Most often, the cause of poisoning is the inhalation of vapors, in which the paint penetrates the blood through the nasal passages. Less often, the cause of poisoning is the ingestion of paint through the gastrointestinal tract.

Poisoning can be accidental or professional. In case of accidental poisoning, a person is poisoned by inhaling a large amount of paint during work, painting some material, walls. In case of professional poisoning, a person most often has prolonged contact with paints, as a result of which a gradual accumulation of toxins in the blood occurs, chronic poisoning develops.

Often people are poisoned not even by their own will, but, say, when a neighbor has painted their apartment, and the person living next door to him is forced to breathe in paint fumes. Poisonings often happen at construction sites, near repair and construction work.

You can also get poisoned not only by fresh paint, but also by old paint, the kind that is removed from the walls during repair and restoration work. In this case, the poisoning can be even more severe, since fine dust is formed, which subsequently settles on the walls of the bronchi and respiratory tract, causing spasms, irritation, and allergic reactions. In many countries, this type of cleaning is prohibited by law and entails criminal liability. There are even cases when the cause of poisoning is suicide. Not the best way to commit suicide, however, it is observed quite often.

Another reason may be insufficient control of the child's activity by parents. Children often paint with watercolors. They can also cause poisoning in certain cases. It is known that children love to taste everything, since their taste, smell and tactile sensations are one of the ways to learn about the world around them. Any paint entering the child's body, especially in large quantities, can cause poisoning. Water, which is used in this case, can lead to an increase in the effect, accelerate absorption and increase the degree of activity of the paint, as a result of which the pathological process develops much faster.

The cause may be paint burning. If the paint catches fire, the process is accompanied by intense release of toxins. Even if the burning is stopped, toxins continue to enter the environment for some time, and we continue to inhale them. The cause may also be the carelessness with which many people carry out painting work. Failure to comply with basic safety rules, ignoring personal protective equipment, can lead to poisoning. Also, various cosmetology and hairdressing services, which use hair dye, eyebrows, eyelashes, are often the cause of poisoning.

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Risk factors

People who do repairs, paint and varnish work and do not follow safety precautions are at significant risk. This can lead to poisoning not only of the person doing the painting, but also of the people around them. The risk of poisoning increases significantly for those people who have to deal with paints and varnishes in their professional activities. The risk group also includes people who dye their hair with hair dye, as well as hairdressers and stylists who use various dyes in their work. Paints with a high ammonia content are especially dangerous.

The smell of paint causes the greatest pathological process in children and women. They develop poisoning much faster. In this case, it is often enough to inhale a small amount of vapor. This tendency is especially intensified during pregnancy. Children are also at risk, especially if they are left alone with paints. They can smell them, taste them, gnaw them. Accidentally left paint can cause poisoning of a child. We must not forget that even ordinary watercolor paint can cause serious poisoning.

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Pathogenesis

The pathogenesis is based on the penetration of toxic substances into the body. The main route of their penetration is the respiratory tract, mucous membranes, and less often the skin. Accordingly, the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract is affected first: severe swelling, redness, and irritation develop.

Gradually, these substances are absorbed into the blood, the toxic components spread throughout the body, to the internal organs. As a result, all internal organs and systems are damaged. A severe intoxication process develops, in which the normal composition of the blood is disrupted, the function of the heart, kidneys, and liver is disrupted. In addition, paints can cause an exacerbation of existing diseases, a relapse of chronic pathologies, a strong allergic reaction. This condition is especially dangerous for people prone to allergies, since they can develop a severe condition, up to anaphylactic shock.

When it comes into contact with the skin, it can cause a chemical burn, irritation, or damage to the skin. Often, such damage is irreversible, since skin receptors are damaged and die, after which tissue necrosis rapidly develops.

It is quite dangerous to get it on the mucous membrane: damage to its normal structure may develop, as a result of which the normal functioning of the mechanisms of natural resistance is disrupted, the body's resistance and resistance decreases, and the normal functioning of the immune system is disrupted. This is fraught with the fact that an infection or a secondary inflammatory process may develop, which is accompanied by the addition of an infection, constant progression of the disease. Another danger is that the mucous membrane may be subject to erosions and ulcers.

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Symptoms paint poisoning

First of all, a person feels swelling, nasal congestion, and sore throat. Gradually, severe swelling develops, severe dizziness and headache occur. A person may lose consciousness. In this case, severe convulsions, seizures, excessive salivation, and photophobia often occur.

In the early stages, nausea, intense vomiting, and severe loss of coordination of movements may also be observed. Severe dizziness, often leading to loss of consciousness, and tachycardia may suddenly appear. Various dyspeptic disorders often appear, and breathing and heart rhythm disturbances occur.

In the worst case, the disease develops suddenly, spontaneously, and is accompanied by loss of consciousness, convulsions, and heart failure. This often happens with a tendency to anaphylactic shock, excessive allergic reaction. A person may fall into a comatose state.

In case of external poisoning, when the paint gets on the skin or mucous membranes, the signs of a chemical burn are most pronounced. In this case, a pronounced local reaction prevails, which manifests itself in the form of a burn and tissue necrosis. If ingested, a burn also occurs. The main complaints are intense burning, deterioration in health, severe headache, pressure and pain in the chest and heart. The complexion changes sharply, the mucous membrane becomes overdried, acquires a bluish tint. This indicates severe damage to the blood and kidneys. This condition may be a sign of the development of an irreversible condition. Such a person develops severe, painful vomiting. Blood impurities may appear, which indicates the presence of hidden or severe bleeding.

First signs

As soon as you feel a slight discomfort after direct or indirect contact with any paints, varnishes - this is an alarming sign. Even the slightest feeling of loss of strength, decreased activity, lack of apatite can serve as the first alarm bell, which you must definitely pay attention to and take appropriate measures.

It is important to pay attention to the following signs. So, if weakness, rapid fatigue, increased sweating appear - all these are harbingers of poisoning. A person often has chills, cold sweat, trembling in the body. Gradually, a feeling of lack of air and swelling appears and increases. You should not ignore these signs. You need to contact a medical institution as soon as possible, where they can provide emergency care. Otherwise, severe complications may develop. Up to a fatal outcome.

Early signs such as headache and fainting may also develop. Nausea and vomiting gradually join in, and a characteristic specific odor from the mouth appears, reminiscent of the smell of acetone. Pathology of the eyeball develops.

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Temperature in paint poisoning

Temperature in case of paint poisoning is an unfavorable sign and indicates the development of severe intoxication syndrome, its progression. It is often observed during the development of inflammatory processes, the addition of infection or secondary damage to tissues and organs. In this case, it is better not to take any independent actions, but to consult a doctor as soon as possible. Often, complex therapy is required, symptomatic treatment is ineffective. Antipyretics, as a rule, do not bring down such a temperature.

Paint poisoning in children

In children, as a rule, poisoning is most severe. Most often, symptoms develop rapidly, pathological processes also develop very intensively. The reason is that the child's metabolism is very highly developed, much stronger compared to adults.

According to WHO, the number of poisonings among children in the world is rapidly increasing. Over the past 5 years, the number of poisonings among preschool children has tripled. Unfortunately, most often the cause is negligence on the part of parents. At the same time, in the village these figures are approximately 2-3 times lower than in the city. There is also a tendency towards an increase in the number of poisonings among teenagers, which are committed with suicidal intent.

The prognosis may vary and depends on the timeliness and quality of first aid provided, as well as further treatment at the hospital stage. First aid is provided as soon as the child is taken to a medical facility, and sometimes even at the scene of the incident. It is necessary to neutralize the effect of the paint. At the same time, the stomach and intestines are washed. The child is put to bed, the state of the nervous system is checked. If it is excessively depressed or excitable, appropriate symptomatic therapy is carried out. In this case, it is important to tone the nervous system, which will normalize metabolism and stabilize the main vital signs. The patient must be constantly monitored, since intense vomiting may occur, the condition may deteriorate sharply.

It is important to prevent further deterioration of the condition, since it can deteriorate very quickly in a child. For this, appropriate stabilizing therapy and supportive treatment are carried out. It is important to remember that a child develops pain or toxic shock quite quickly. He quickly loses consciousness, the pupils stop responding to light. This condition can be dangerous due to brain damage, hypoxia and progressive disruption of the heart and kidneys. In some cases, necrosis of the affected areas occurs.

A condition in which cardiac and respiratory function is impaired, a nervous or convulsive seizure, tremor or paralysis of smooth muscles may develop is considered dangerous. A severe condition may be accompanied by an increase in temperature, up to critical values. Dry mouth, weakness, sometimes delirium and hallucinations, migraines, tremors in the body also appear. The child either loses consciousness or begins to panic, while the pupils become dilated. The main reflexes may be impaired - swallowing and even breathing. Such a condition is also dangerous due to a sharp drop in blood pressure, tachycardia occurs. Ultimately, the entire metabolism is disrupted, severe intoxication occurs, diuresis decreases. Death can occur as a result of edema, pulmonary emphysema, the development of cardiac and respiratory failure.

Complications and consequences

Any poisoning, even the most minor, can have serious consequences for the body. The main manifestation is intoxication of the body, which can have varying degrees of severity. At the same time, complications associated with a violation of the composition and function of the blood are considered dangerous. Any toxic substance has a negative effect on red blood cells, the content of hemoglobin in them. As a result, oxygen transport in tissues is disrupted and the removal of carbon dioxide is delayed. This can lead to the development of hypoxia, in which the tissues of the human body do not receive the necessary amount of oxygen, respectively, metabolic processes slow down, blood circulation is disrupted.

Hypoxia can lead to serious metabolic disorders. Another consequence of hypoxia is hypercapnia. These two processes are closely interconnected. Circulatory disorders are accompanied by the fact that gas exchange products (carbon dioxide) are not removed from the cells, but are retained in them. Excessive accumulation of carbon dioxide in tissues leads to metabolic disorders. Metabolic products are not removed, carbon dioxide accumulates in the cells and causes a toxic effect. Further increase in hypoxia and hypercapnia can lead to an increase in intoxication symptoms and the development of anemia.

Severe intoxication may result in disruption of the structure and functions of the main organs and functional systems. Thus, disruption of the functional state of the liver, kidneys, heart may develop, up to the development of severe failure and death.

In addition, toxic substances contained in paint have an irritating effect on the skin and mucous membranes. They have a cumulative effect, that is, accumulating in the human body, they suppress the thyroid gland, causing endemic goiter. Fumes and dust cause nosebleeds, pneumonia, impair breathing, cause pneumonia or asthma attacks. Chronic paint poisoning leads to sexual dysfunction. It has a depressing effect on the heart and blood pressure, promotes the expansion of abdominal vessels. It seriously affects the nervous system.

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Diagnostics paint poisoning

Poisoning is diagnosed mainly by the characteristic clinical picture, the main symptoms of the pathology. First aid is provided based on objective data and subjective sensations. The following clinical picture usually indicates paint poisoning: severe vomiting, profuse sweating, diarrhea, loss of strength and loss of consciousness, up to complete collapse.

An unpleasant metallic taste appears in the mouth, vomiting occurs in combination with a suffocating cough, severe pain develops in the oral cavity and throat, which gradually covers the stomach area and intestines. Dizziness and profuse salivation appear. After a short-term acceleration, the pulse and breathing slow down sharply. Convulsions, collapse and death from cardiac paralysis develop. Death sometimes occurs on the first day, and sometimes after several weeks.

Only after first aid has been rendered and the threat to life has passed, do they proceed to further diagnostics aimed at identifying the pathological processes that arose as a result of the action of toxic substances. In this case, laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods are used. Differential diagnostics may be required.

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Tests

First of all, clinical tests are used: urine, feces, blood tests. They can have important diagnostic value.

In a blood test, the most significant is the level of erythrocytes, hemoglobin content, and features of the white blood cell count. Thus, a sharp decrease in hemoglobin and the number of erythrocytes in the blood may indicate the development of a severe intoxication process, caused mainly by substances of chemical origin. An increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate may indicate the development of an inflammatory process, tissue damage. A decrease in ESR may indicate that intoxication is progressing, and the amount of toxins in the body is increasing.

A shift in the leukocyte formula to the right indicates the development of a severe inflammatory process against the background of increasing intoxication of the body. This fact is confirmed by an increased level of eosinophils, neutrophils and basophils. Attention is also paid to the morphology of erythrocytes. When studying them, the appearance of basophilic granularity can become an alarming sign that indicates severe intoxication, a severe stage of the disease, damage to blood cells.

When examining urine for intoxication, a change in its color and odor may indicate. Physiological proteinuria may be observed during intoxication. In severe forms of intoxication, accompanied by damage to the heart muscle, severe decompensation processes, glomerular proteinuria appears. An alarming sign is the appearance of hemoglobin in the blood. This is most often observed in severe intravascular hemolysis, as a result of which hemoglobin is released. Gradually, free hemoglobin passes from the blood into the urine. Also, in case of poisoning, glucose may appear in the urine.

Urobilin bodies indicate severe liver damage by toxins, as well as the development of hemolytic anemia, a severe degree of intoxication.

Microscopic examination of urinary sediment can reveal leukocytes in the urine. Their increase indicates severe kidney damage by toxins, the development of acute fever or intoxication. A particularly dangerous sign is the appearance in the urine of deformed leukocytes with a thinned, loosened membrane and blurred contours, dim granularity. Also, with severe intoxication, renal epithelial cells appear in the urinary sediment.

The presence of blood in the stool may indicate severe damage to the digestive tract by toxins.

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Instrumental diagnostics

Instrumental diagnostics is used mainly at the stage of recovery after acute poisoning, in the case where it is necessary to identify the severity of the pathological process and the degree of damage that the body has received from exposure to toxic substances. Thus, when paint gets inside, the digestive system suffers first. Then, the active substance is absorbed into the systemic bloodstream, resulting in disruption of cardiac activity. Death most often occurs as a result of disruption of cardiac activity.

Therefore, the main methods of instrumental examination in this case are electrocardiogram, ultrasound of the heart, which allow timely detection of heart pathology and disruption of its functional state. Spirogram allows monitoring the respiratory rate, the main indicators of the lungs and the respiratory system as a whole. Using such methods as gastroscopy, ultrasound, X-ray examination, colonoscopy, the digestive tract is examined.

Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnostics is based on the determination of the toxin that plays a leading role in the development of the pathological process. If it is necessary to accurately determine the toxic substance that has a poisonous effect on the body, as well as its concentration, a toxicological study and some biochemical analyses are carried out.

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Treatment paint poisoning

Everyone is susceptible to poisoning, so it is important to know the symptoms of poisoning and be able to provide first aid.

Prevention

To prevent poisoning, it is necessary to observe safety precautions and safety requirements when working with paints. People who work with paints must carefully follow safety recommendations, use personal protective equipment, and also use preventive measures that prevent the accumulation of toxins in the body and promote their timely removal. For example, you should periodically drink sorbents (sorbex, activated carbon, enterosgel).

Small children should use only those paints that are intended for children, under adult supervision. It is also necessary to explain to them the rules for using paints, including watercolors. Household and industrial paints should be stored in a place inaccessible to children.

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Forecast

The prognosis depends on the severity of the case and the extent of damage to vital organs. Collapse and pulmonary edema are usually serious symptoms, with which the prognosis is rarely favorable. If first aid is not provided in a timely manner, a favorable prognosis should not be expected. However, if the substance is neutralized and removed from the body in a timely manner, then paint poisoning may end well. Full recovery usually occurs after 10-14 days.

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