Rat poisoning

To combat rodents that breed in residential and non-residential premises, a special rat poison is used. It is freely available, although it is very toxic. The packaging in which it is sold contains detailed instructions on its use. But sometimes people ignore the rules, do not read the recommendations and, by carelessly handling the substance, endanger the health and even the lives of pets, and even children. Rat poison poisoning is very dangerous and you need to know how it manifests itself and what detoxification actions to take. [ 1 ]

Rodenticides or "rat poisons" are mixed compounds used to kill rodents. They are one of the most toxic agents commonly found in households.

Pathogenesis

Given the wide range of toxins used as rodenticides, symptoms will vary depending on the toxin ingested. Rodenticides are often categorized on the label by their level of toxicity.[ 2 ]

1. "Hazardous" or highly toxic rodenticides include thallium, sodium monofluoroacetate (fluoroacetate), strychnine, zinc phosphide, aluminum phosphide, elemental phosphorus, arsenic, barium carbonate. Rarely used or banned hazardous toxins include tetramethylene disulfotetramine (TETS, tetramine), aldicarb, alpha-chloralose, and pyrinuron.
2. "Preventative" or toxic rodenticides include alpha-naphthylthiourea (ANTU) and cholecalciferol.
3. "Caution" or less toxic rodenticides include anticoagulants (superwarfarins, warfarin), norbormide, bromethalin, and red onion.

Chemical compounds under the general name rodenticides are used to destroy harmful rodents. They are classified as intestinal-acting drugs. The mechanism of toxic action is determined by the substances on the basis of which they were created.

Usually, grains are used as a base, flavored with aromatic vegetable oil as bait, and coumarins, which are indirect anticoagulants, are used as poison. When they enter the rodent's body, they inhibit the process of prothrombin formation, which leads to blood clotting, blood vessels are damaged, and after some time, a hemorrhage into the brain occurs. The individual dies.

Symptoms rat poisoning

Poisoning of a person with rat poison (most often it happens to a child) manifests itself depending on its quantity. The first signs, lasting a day or two, are expressed by a state of lethargy, depression, drowsiness, lack of appetite, rapid fatigue. In the following days, bruises on the skin and bleeding from the nose, ears, gums, vomiting with blood, blood in the urine, feces, shortness of breath, headache, dizziness, paleness of the mucous membranes and skin appear.

The symptoms of poisoning of animals, including dogs, cats, pigs (they are the ones most susceptible to picking up abandoned food), are similar to each other and appear two days after poisoning: vomiting, turquoise colored feces, difficulty breathing, hemorrhages into deep tissues. The animal loses coordination, drools heavily, foam appears at the mouth, trembles and convulsions.

Stages

In case of poisoning with rat poison, there are 2 stages: asymptomatic (up to 2-3 days) and symptomatic, when clinical signs appear.

Complications and consequences

For animals, poisoning becomes fatal if adequate measures are not taken in a timely manner. For humans (except for small children), the life-threatening dose is too large (at least 150 g of poisoned grain) to eat accidentally, but there is a risk of harming one's health, organs and systems.

Diagnostics rat poisoning

Diagnosis of rat poisoning is based on the story of what happened, symptoms, clinical blood test (characteristic is the appearance of anemia), determination of blood clotting time (normal indicator is 3-6 minutes), test for vitamin K deficiency (necessary for blood clotting, prothrombin).

To study the degree of damage to internal organs, instrumental diagnostics are used: ultrasound, MRI, CT, radiography.

Differential diagnosis

Rat poisoning, if the cause is not obvious, is differentiated from liver failure, hereditary hemostasis defects, disorders in the blood clotting system, absolute vitamin K deficiency, which is possible when taking antibiotics against the background of malnutrition or certain pathologies of the pancreas and intestines.

Treatment rat poisoning

First aid for rat poisoning, both to humans and animals, must be provided immediately and treatment must be aggressive.

In the first 2 hours, you need to induce vomiting, then it is ineffective. In animals, this procedure is more difficult to do, but you still need to pour into the mouth a liquid prepared in this way: a tablespoon of soda (salt) per glass of water or hydrogen peroxide and water mixed in equal proportions. Plenty of drinking is recommended.

Treatment is carried out with vitamin K1. Taking activated carbon removes toxins well, but reduces the effectiveness of the vitamin.

In severe cases of poisoning, blood transfusions are used, and other symptomatic therapy is carried out aimed at restoring the affected organs.

Medicines

Vitamin K1 can be found in pharmacies under various trade names: phytomenadione, phylloquinone, konakion, canavit, K-Ject.

Phytomenadione is a transparent viscous liquid with a faint odor. The therapeutic dose is 5 mg per kilogram of body weight per day, the course of treatment lasts up to 6 weeks, since blood clotting is impaired for a long time. The drug is taken 3-4 times, but can be taken up to 6 times a day. Contraindicated in cases of increased blood clotting, thromboembolism.

Polysorb MP - absorbs poison that has entered the body and removes dangerous toxins from the body. It is available in powder for making a suspension. For adults, dissolve a tablespoon of the drug in a glass of water, for children (not prescribed for children under one year) - a teaspoon, take after shaking or stirring. In the age range of 1-7 years, 150-200 mg per kg of body weight is recommended per day, for older children and adults - 12-24 mg, divided into 3-4 doses.

Contraindicated in peptic ulcer, intestinal obstruction, during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Can cause constipation.

Animals can be given the drug diarkan, which prevents the absorption of toxins into the blood by coating the mucous membrane inside the digestive organs. It is prescribed 2 times a day with an interval of 12 hours (in severe cases, 3 times every 8 hours) in doses: animals weighing 1-5 kg - half a sugar cube (this is the form in which it is released); 5-15 kg - a cube, 15-30 kg - 1.5 cubes; 30 kg and more - 2 cubes. The drug is fed by hand or added to food. If side effects occur: vomiting, dermatitis, treatment is stopped.

Gamavit is a complex preparation of biologically active substances, used in addition to other indications and in cases of animal poisoning. Contains mineral salts, vitamins, and amino acids necessary for the body. The solution is administered subcutaneously, intravenously, or by drip once, and the usual therapeutic dose (0.3-0.5 ml/kg) is increased by 3-5 times.

Specific treatment

Renal replacement therapy

• Includes hemodialysis, continuous renal replacement, or charcoal hemoperfusion for poisoning with heavy metals such as thallium, arsenic, or barium.

Benzodiazepines

• Indicated for muscle spasms and convulsions, especially in strychnine poisoning. [ 3 ]

British Antilewisite

• Used for chelation in acute arsenic poisoning.[ 4 ]

Meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) or 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonate (DMPS)

• Used for chelation in chronic arsenic poisoning.

Sodium sulfate or magnesium sulfate

• It is specifically used in acute ingestion of barium carbonate, making it a non-absorbable barium sulfate compound.[ 5 ]

Nicotinamide (intravenous)

• Used in cases of pyrimidine poisoning to replenish NAD and NADH products for cellular energy metabolism. [ 6 ]

Mineralocorticoids

• Used for orthostatic hypotension in pyrimidine poisoning.

Digoxin immune Fab

• Used for symptomatic treatment of red onion poisoning.[ 7 ]

Most importantly, clinicians should evaluate and manage patients in consultation with a regional poison control center or toxicology resource.

Prevention

It is easier to avoid poisoning with rat poison than to cure it. Therefore, the first preventive measure is to take precautions, properly store such means, place the poison in places inaccessible to children and animals, protect hands with rubber gloves, and train dogs.

Forecast

Animals often die from such poisons, and immediate contact with the veterinary service can save them. For adults, the prognosis is favorable, and for children, it depends on the dose and speed of treatment.