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Symptoms of poisoning
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
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Symptoms of poisoning poisoning depend on the toxic substance. In addition, different patients poisoned by the same agent may have very different symptoms. However, 6 groups of symptoms (toxic syndromes) are considered characteristic and can indicate the class of a specific poison. Patients who have taken several substances are unlikely to develop symptoms characteristic of individual agents.
Characteristic toxic syndromes
Syndrome |
Symptoms |
Typical reasons |
Anticholinergic |
Tachycardia, hyperthermia, mydriasis, skin warm and dry, urinary retention, ileus, delirium ("mad as a hatter, blind as a bat, red as a beetroot, hot as a kettle and dry as a bone"*) |
Antihistamines, atropine, ergot alkaloids, datura, mushrooms (some species), psychotropic drugs (many), scopolamine, tricyclic antidepressants |
Cholinergic, muscarinic |
SLUDGE syndrome [salivation, lacrimation, frequent urination and defecation, gas trointestinal cramps and vomiting emesis] |
Carbamates, mushrooms (some types), organophosphorus compounds, physostigmine, pilocarpine, pyridostigmine bromide |
Cholinergic, nicotinic |
Tachycardia, arterial hypertension, fasciculations, abdominal pain, paresis |
Black widow spider bite, carbamates, insecticides (some), nicotine |
* - From L. Carroll "Alice in Wonderland".
Signs of poisoning usually appear soon after contact with the poison, but in some cases they appear later. A latent period is possible if the metabolite of the toxic substance is more toxic than the original substance (methanol, ethylene glycol, hepatotoxins). Taking hepatotoxins (paracetamol, iron preparations, Amanita phalloides mushrooms) can lead to acute liver failure within the first or next few days. In case of poisoning with metals or hydrocarbon solvents, symptoms of poisoning appear only after chronic exposure.
Poisons taken internally cause systemic manifestations. Caustic and corrosive liquids mainly affect the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract and lead to stomatitis, enteritis or perforations. When taking some poisons (alcohol, hydrocarbons), a specific odor from the mouth occurs. Contact of poisons with the skin is characterized by various skin manifestations (rash, pain, blisters); long-term exposure to a toxic substance leads to dermatitis. When inhaling water-soluble toxic substances, symptoms of damage to the upper respiratory tract develop; water-soluble poisons cause the development of symptoms of damage to the lung parenchyma and pulmonary edema. Getting toxic substances into the eyes causes damage to the cornea and lens, manifested by pain, hemorrhage and redness, as well as loss of vision. Some substances (cocaine, phencyclidine, amphetamine) cause significant excitement, hyperthermia, acidosis and rhabdomyolysis.
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