Poisoning by vapors, chlorine solution, in the pool: signs, what to do, how to treat

Chlorine is a poisonous gas with a sweet metallic taste and a sharp smell. In nature, it is found only in minerals. In small quantities, it is contained in the intercellular fluid of humans and animals, participating in the work of nerve cells and metabolic processes. Chlorine is widely used in the production of pesticides, fertilizers, solvents, medicines, detergents and disinfectants, plastics, polyvinyl chloride, synthetic rubber, and combat toxic substances. In everyday life, it is used for bleaching, cleaning bathtubs, sinks and toilets, it is used to disinfect water in swimming pools and tap water in homes. Under what circumstances can it pose a threat to human life?

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Epidemiology

Statistics show that most man-made accidents in the world are related to the release of ammonia and chlorine into the atmosphere. And if you consider how much of the substance is used in agriculture, water purification, and pharmaceuticals, then the negative scale of its impact on humans becomes clear. Among household poisonings, about half of all cases are due to poisoning with this substance.

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Causes chlorine poisoning

In order for chlorine to be safe, there are maximum permissible levels of its concentration. Thus, in the atmosphere, the average daily content of the gas should not exceed 0.03 mg/m3 ^, one-time - 0.1 mg/ ^m3, in industrial premises - 1 mg/m3 ^. The causes of chlorine poisoning can be:

• industrial accidents;
• high gas content in the pool and water supply;
• use of chemical weapons of mass destruction;
• Violation of rules of use in everyday life (high concentrations, closed spaces).

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Risk factors

Risk factors include alcoholism, toxicomania, and drug addiction. Chronic diseases of the throat, lungs, heart, kidney, and liver failure increase susceptibility to the effects of chlorine.

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Pathogenesis

The pathogenesis of chlorine poisoning is a chemical injury that disrupts vital functions of the body. As a result of the reaction of gas with the moisture of the mucous membrane, hydrochloric acid and active oxygen are formed, which have a toxic effect. At first, the epithelium of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract suffers, then the epithelial lining of the alveoli. They swell, degenerate, and then necrosis occurs. These processes lead to increased permeability of the alveolar walls, impaired blood circulation, and damage to the pulmonary capillaries.

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Symptoms chlorine poisoning

Symptoms of chlorine poisoning depend on the dose of the toxic substance and the duration of its exposure. The first signs are expressed in:

• sore throat and cough due to irritation of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract;
• bitterness in the mouth and increased salivation;
• sore eyes and tearing;
• nausea;
• headache;
• possible convulsions.

Chlorine vapor poisoning can occur both in production using gas, in agriculture when spraying crops, and in everyday life. Getting gas vapors through the upper respiratory tract is called inhalation poisoning. Such poisoning can be obtained from any toxic gas - chlorine, ammonia, etc.

Symptoms of chlorine and ammonia poisoning are similar: sore throat, cough, suffocation, headache, watery eyes, skin irritation, chest pain, stomach pain.

Ammonia exposure most often occurs in production, when cleaning sewers and cesspools.

Cases of chlorine poisoning are not uncommon in swimming pools. Owners of private pools, trying to avoid the spread of infections, sometimes overdo it with the chlorine content in the water. There are many media reports of swimming enthusiasts becoming ill en masse while swimming.

Chlorine poisoning at home

Chlorine poisoning often occurs at home when using large amounts of cleaning agents and bleaches in unventilated areas without following the instructions for the concentration of the substance. Chlorine is a cheap and therefore attractive method for many housewives to clean, disinfect the toilet, bathroom, and bleach linen. Violating the rules for using the product can result in large losses for both health and wallet.

Chlorine poisoning in a child

Chlorine poisoning in children is very dangerous. It can be caused by either a swimming pool or unattended cleaning products. It is best for parents to use chlorine-free disinfectants, and when visiting a swimming pool, ask what is used to disinfect the water. At the first symptoms of poisoning, a quick reaction from adults is important - interrupting contact with the source of infection, ventilating the room, calling an ambulance.

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Stages

Depending on the time of exposure of the toxin to the body, acute and chronic poisoning are distinguished. Acute chlorine poisoning has the following stages:

1. the first - lightning - occurs as a result of poisoning with a high concentration of gas. It is accompanied by suffocation, convulsions, reddening and blueing of the skin, and ends in death;
2. the second is severe - it is characterized by temporary suffocation, loss of consciousness, and possibly death if the lungs are burned;
3. the third - average - entails difficulty breathing, burning and sore throat as a result of a burn of the mucous membrane of the larynx, lacrimation, pulmonary edema;
4. the fourth is easy.

Mild chlorine poisoning is characterized by minor ailments, such as a burning sensation in the nose and throat, a runny nose, cough, and red, watery eyes. The person feels general weakness for several days. These symptoms disappear after a few days.

Chronic chlorine poisoning occurs as a result of prolonged exposure to low concentrations of gas on the body. This usually occurs in people whose professional activities are related to production using chlorine. The disease is expressed in a constant dry cough, general weakness, and a depressive state.

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Complications and consequences

Long-term exposure to chlorine in chronic poisoning affects the skin - dermatitis, chlorine acne, purulent skin lesions occur. The consequences and complications of acute poisoning can be chronic laryngitis, pharyngitis, tracheobronchitis, pulmonary emphysema, pneumosclerosis, cardiac and pulmonary failure.

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Diagnostics chlorine poisoning

When diagnosing chlorine poisoning, it is very important to know all the details of what happened: the circumstances of the infection, the time spent in the danger zone, the dose of the toxin. Even if a person feels well, he or she must be hospitalized for at least a day in order to conduct laboratory, instrumental and functional studies.

In case of chlorine poisoning, the gas composition of arterial blood is examined. The oxygen content in it in case of severe damage decreases, organic acids increase. As pulmonary edema appears, hemoglobin, leukocytes increase, blood clotting time accelerates.

A very important method of instrumental diagnostics in case of chlorine poisoning is dynamic X-ray examination of the lungs. Detection of organ changes characteristic of edema will allow taking urgent measures to save the patient. At an early stage, the size of the lung roots increases, their vascular pattern intensifies, the pulmonary fields become less transparent, and dark spots appear. Timely treatment gives the opposite picture after 6-8 hours. If there is pulmonary edema, focal shadows merge, and the lymphatic vessels swell. During the recovery process, the X-ray changes after 2-10 days. The development of gray hypoxia (collapse stage) is expressed by large-scale darkening of the lungs.

To assess the condition of other organs, MRI and CT are used. An ECG of the heart is also performed.

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Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnostics are carried out with poisoning by other toxic substances, such as ammonia, mercury, carbon monoxide, metal oxides, etc.

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Treatment chlorine poisoning

Treatment of victims should begin with first aid, which primarily involves eliminating the source of contamination or evacuating the person from the affected area and providing him with fresh air. Then you need to remove his clothes and wash with water those areas of the skin that came into contact with chlorine. In case of oral poisoning, it is important to immediately rinse the stomach. The throat, nose and mouth can be rinsed with a weak soda solution. Eyes are thoroughly washed with warm water. Inhalations with soda and water solutions are indicated. If necessary, the patency of the airways is ensured. The use of antidotes for poisoning allows you to counteract the damaging substance, eliminate damage to the body, and normalize the condition. An antidote for chlorine poisoning can be a regular oxygen pillow. In case of pulmonary edema, hormonal therapy is used, and antibiotics are used to prevent infections.

Medicines

In case of chlorine poisoning, inhalations of bronchodilators are carried out: salbutamol, atrovent, berodual, etc. The procedure can be carried out with a 10% solution of menthol in chloroform.

Salbutamol is a powder and solution for inhalation, has a bronchodilator effect. A single dose is 2.5 mg 3-4 times a day, if necessary, it can be increased to 5 mg. Use with caution in thyroid disease, tachycardia, pregnancy, high blood pressure. Side effects include tremors and rapid heartbeat.

Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen are also used.

Ibuprofen is available in tablets and syrups. Recommended dose is 400 mg 2-3 times a day, maximum dose is 2.4 g per day. May cause dizziness, nausea, insomnia, nervous excitement, allergies. Contraindicated in hematological problems, gastrointestinal ulcers in the acute stage, children under 6 years old, liver and kidney failure.

In case of difficulty breathing, theophedrine, theophylline, and euphylline are prescribed.

Theophedrine - tablets, taken in the morning or afternoon, one or half a tablet once a day by adults and children over 12 years old. For younger children, a quarter of a tablet is enough. If necessary, the frequency of administration can be increased to 3 times. Not prescribed for glaucoma, coronary disorders. Can cause nausea, vomiting, sweating, urinary retention.

Bromhexine will help get rid of a cough and speed up the removal of phlegm from the bronchi.

Bromhexine - tablets, syrup, reduces the viscosity of sputum and its secretion. Doses for different age groups are different, taken 3 times a day:

• 2-6 years - 4 mg or half a tablet (half or a full teaspoon of syrup);
• 6-10 years - three quarters or a whole tablet (1-2 spoons);
• after 10 years - one tablet 4 times a day (2-3 spoons).

The drug can be used for inhalation, diluting it with distilled water in a 1:1 ratio. With prolonged use of bromhexine, side effects such as indigestion and swelling rarely occur. Contraindicated in the first trimester of pregnancy, with hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, ulcers of the digestive organs

The eyes are instilled with a 0.5% solution of dicoine or novocaine (0.25%).

Dikoin is a powder that has a strong anesthetic effect. 2-3 drops in each eye are enough. The drug is toxic, so it is not used for pregnant women and children under 10 years old.

Toxic burn of the lungs is treated with prednisolone or hydrocortisone.

Vitamins

In case of chlorine poisoning, the victim is given large doses of ascorbic acid along with other treatment measures. After the first emergency measures have been taken and the threat to life has been eliminated, it is necessary to support the body with vitamins and microelements. For this purpose, you can resort to vitamin complexes containing B vitamins and vitamin E. It is important to include more fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.

Physiotherapy treatment

Widely used physiotherapeutic methods of treating chlorine poisoning include oxygen therapy, the use of which is very important in hypoxia, since it compensates for the lack of oxygen in the tissues. Among the first-priority measures to eliminate the consequences of poisoning are various inhalations (soda, medicinal).

Folk remedies

In case of chlorine poisoning by ingestion through the mouth, the stomach is washed with milk or by dissolving the white of a raw egg in water. Traditional medicine offers various recipes for expectoration in case of bronchial damage. Honey mixed with onion juice is effective for this purpose: mix these ingredients in equal parts, drink a tablespoon after meals. The same recipe is used to prepare a mixture of honey and horseradish juice. You can drink warm milk, having previously squeezed a few cloves of garlic into it with a garlic press. In case of laryngeal burns, drink olive oil with egg whites. To eliminate eye inflammation, use fresh tea leaves, they can also be washed with a weak solution of honey.

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Herbal treatment

There are effective herbal infusions for treating upper respiratory tract diseases, including chlorine poisoning. They necessarily include licorice, which also neutralizes poisons that have entered the body; coltsfoot - an expectorant, anti-inflammatory agent; elecampane - a good antiseptic; marshmallow - has an analgesic effect. In case of poisoning, a decoction of dill seeds, an infusion of dried cranberries and lingonberries, and an extract of pink radiola are effective.

Homeopathy

There are now many homeopathic remedies on sale that can be used to treat symptoms caused by chlorine poisoning. For example, in case of damage to the throat mucosa, Angina-Heel S is used.

Angin-heel S is a complex preparation of plant, animal and mineral origin. It has an antiseptic and disinfectant effect on the source of the disease of any etiology. Round tablets from white to yellow, odorless. The dose for adults is 1 piece under the tongue. For children, the tablet is ground and dissolved in water at room temperature (one for 2 tablespoons of water). Depending on age and body weight, 2 to 3 teaspoons are recommended at a time. Daily frequency is 3 times. Duration of treatment is up to 3 weeks. It is contraindicated for children under 1 year old. Mercury in the composition of the drug can cause increased salivation, and allergic rashes are also possible. In this case, you should stop taking it.

Another remedy similar in action is anginal. There are several options that combine different medicinal herbs. In case of poisoning, anginal with sage, licorice and eucalyptus oil is more suitable.

Anginal - tablets dissolve in the mouth until completely dissolved. Not recommended for pregnant women and children under 5 years. Adults can take a tablet every 2-3 hours, children from 10 years - half every 3-4, younger than this age - a quarter. Can cause allergic reactions. Not used by patients with liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, arterial hypertension.

Cough (chronic bronchitis, laryngitis, tracheitis) caused by damage to the upper respiratory tract can be treated with the homeopathic remedy Broncho-Gran.

Broncho-gran — granules, the adult dose is 7 pieces under the tongue, for children it is calculated based on age — a granule per year of life. For small patients it is dissolved in water. The drug is taken a quarter of an hour before meals or an hour after them, the frequency is 2-6 times a day. Up to a year it is prescribed only on the recommendation of a doctor. There are no other warnings.

Restores liver and bile duct functions after toxic effects of Hepar comp. Heel.

Gepar comp. Heel is a transparent, odorless liquid for subcutaneous, intramuscular, and, if necessary, intravenous injections. Oral administration is possible (a single dose is diluted in 5-10 ml of water). For adults, it is 1 ampoule (2.2 ml), for children it ranges from 0.4 ml for infants to 1 ml for 6 years. No contraindications have been identified, side effects include an allergy to the components.

Surgical treatment

Surgical treatment may be necessary in case of laryngeal stenosis. Surgical intervention can be urgent for breathing restoration, as well as restorative.

Prevention

Prevention in "chlorine" production consists of employees undergoing medical examinations once a year, as well as ensuring the necessary measures to maintain the permissible concentration of chlorine in the room. This should be facilitated by the functioning of the ventilation system, maintaining the tightness of gas tanks.

In everyday life, it is necessary to exercise caution when using chlorine-containing substances, ventilate the premises, wash hands, and keep them out of the reach of children.

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Forecast

The prognosis is ambiguous - from instant death to slow recovery. Those who survive the first day after severe chlorine poisoning, as a rule, pull through. More than one week passes with signs of pneumonia, bronchitis. Pulmonary emphysema and heart problems can accompany the victim for the rest of his life.

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