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Health

Water in poisoning: can you drink and what kind?

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 07.06.2024
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The human body consists of 60% water. In case of poisoning and GI disorders, H2O is used to eliminate toxins and prevent dehydration.

A pathological condition in which there are disorders on the part of the digestive organs is poisoning. The disorder develops due to the ingestion of food products with various pathogenic microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli), bacteria. Most often poisoning provokes the consumption of low-quality products, poisonous plants and mushrooms.

The first symptoms of poisoning develop 30 minutes after consuming expired products, but more often after 4-6 hours, in some cases after 24 hours. The main signs of body damage include:

  • Severe nausea.
  • Repeated vomiting.
  • Diarrhea (watery stools with undigested food remains).
  • Painful cramps in the stomach area.
  • Profuse salivation.
  • Increased gas.

First aid at the appearance of the above symptoms is aimed at gastric lavage, to empty the stomach of spoiled products and their toxins. For this purpose, purified water is used. The liquid is taken internally to provoke vomiting. For lavage you can use a weak (pale pink) solution of manganese, a solution of baking soda (1 teaspoon per 1 liter of boiled water) or table salt (2 tablespoons per 5 liters of water).

Can I drink water when poisoned?

Water is a part of all living organisms and tissues, so without it their normal functioning is impossible.

  • Fluid regulates metabolic processes
  • Maintains thermal balance.
  • Promotes the excretion of metabolic products.

Dehydration of the body causes disruption in the functioning of all its organs and systems, reduces efficiency and negatively affects morale.

In poisoning, the body loses water through vomiting and diarrhea. Therefore, it is very important to provide the patient with plenty of water to avoid dehydration and eliminate toxins. It is recommended to drink purified or boiled water, loose tea, berry morsels, sours, compotes. Carbonated drinks, alcohol, coffee, sweet juices are forbidden.

In severe signs of poisoning will help special saline solutions that replenish fluid loss and restore the acid-base balance. In case of timely assistance, the symptoms of intoxication pass within a week.

Indications Water in poisoning: can you drink and what kind?

The main indication for the use of water in poisoning is the prevention of dehydration, that is, dehydration of the body. Fluid intake is aimed at cleansing the gastrointestinal tract of toxins and pathogens that provoked intoxication.

  • Through bouts of vomiting, the body cleanses itself of toxins, so a person needs abundant drinking.
  • Drinking should be done until the gagging stops completely.
  • In the last attack, the vomit should be clear liquid without food or mucus. This indicates that the stomach has cleared.

If after taking water, vomiting does not occur spontaneously, vomiting must be induced. To do this, drink solutions (salt solution, manganese, baking soda), which irritate the walls of the stomach and cause irritable vomiting. If the solutions do not help, you should press two fingers on the root of the tongue.

If a person is delirious or impaired, unconscious, vomiting should not be induced. The patient may choke on the vomit. Treatment of intoxication in children under two years of age, patients after heart attacks/strokes should be handled by a doctor.

Water for alcohol poisoning

Alcohol poisoning develops when a large amount of alcoholic beverages is consumed in a short period of time. Such intoxication occurs with painful symptoms, and in particularly severe cases can be fatal.

According to medical research, a healthy adult liver can neutralize and eliminate about 30 ml of pure alcohol within 90 minutes. If more was taken during this time, alcohol breakdown products begin to accumulate in the blood, which are carried by the bloodstream throughout the body. This negatively affects the state of internal organs, heart and brain.

That is, overdoing strong drinks over 30 ml of alcohol causes poisoning. Symptoms of mild intoxication include:

  • Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.
  • Confused speech, visual and hearing impairment.
  • Headache, dizziness.
  • Confusion.
  • Coordination disorder.
  • Nausea, gagging.

If the above symptoms appear, you should drink plenty of water to induce vomiting and free the body from alcohol residues. In most cases, the condition normalizes within 24 hours.

If intoxication occurs with severe vomiting, loss of consciousness, decreased body temperature, pale skin, convulsions and infrequent breathing, an ambulance should be called immediately. To combat ethanol poisoning, doctors will flush the stomach with a probe, administer rehydration, mineral water containing salts and glucose. Severe alcohol poisoning can be fatal.

Pharmacodynamics

According to studies, if a person loses 6-8% of fluid from his weight, it is manifested by a semi-fainting state. At 10% moisture loss, hallucinations develop, and at 12%, medical attention is required for recovery. A 20% loss of water is fatal.

In the human body, water performs many functions. The main ones include:

  • Moisturizing oxygen for breathing.
  • Excretion of various toxins and "wastes" from the body.
  • Body temperature regulation.
  • Participation in metabolic processes.
  • Helps in the absorption of nutrients.
  • Converts food into energy and other.

A proper drinking regimen helps to maintain physiological water balance. That is, it balances the inflow and formation of fluid with its excretion. The use of water in poisoning is aimed at the fastest cleansing of the digestive tract through vomiting from food, alcohol and other substances that caused the painful condition. Water is also a natural diuretic.

Pharmacokinetics

The main difference between drinking water and table mineral water is its lower salt content. When intoxication is recommended to drink a lot of liquid, but in small portions. Absorption of liquid is carried out throughout the GI tract, then more intensely in the small intestine.

If you drink a lot of water at once, it will have a negative effect on the kidneys and put additional strain on the cardiovascular system. It should also be taken into account that since water does not contain salts, fat, cholesterol and caffeine, it is eliminated from the body in a different way.

Dosing and administration

Intoxication of the body is accompanied by severe vomiting and diarrhea, which dehydrate the body. Therefore, it is very important to replenish fluid losses and maintain water balance. When poisoning should drink at least 2-3 liters of purified drinking water per day.

It is recommended to salt the consumed liquid (1 teaspoon of salt per 1 liter of water). Saline solution can be alternated with strong and unsweetened tea. In addition to water in the recovery of the body will help pharmacy rehydration remedies such as "Rehydron", "Oralit", mineral water containing salts and glucose.

How much water should I drink when poisoned?

Water in poisoning should be warm 35-37 °C, so as not to cause hypothermia. Cold liquid can slow down intestinal peristalsis, which in turn slows down the movement of toxic substances through the GI tract.

In the first reception should drink from 3 to 6 glasses, provoking vomiting. Rinsing continues until the resulting water is clear. After this procedure, it is recommended to start taking enterosorbents.

The patient should be provided with complete rest. In the first day it is necessary to refrain from eating, on the second day you can introduce light broths, boiled vegetables, mucous broths. Until full recovery should refuse spicy, salty, smoked and sweet products. Under the ban fall carbonated drinks, strong tea and coffee, alcohol.

Mineral water for poisoning

During intoxication, there is active water loss, as vomiting and diarrhea take with them a large volume of fluid that the body needs for metabolic processes. This leads to a disruption of the water-salt balance, which is the ratio between the amount of electrolytes received/removed and water from the body.

The first priority in the treatment of poisoning is to replenish the lost fluid to help the body eliminate toxins. For this purpose, you can use mineral water, which is divided into several types (depending on the salt content):

  • Table - salt concentration up to 1g per liter.
  • Medicinal-table - from 1 to 10 g/l.
  • Therapeutic - more than 10 g/l, biologically active elements are present.

In case of food poisoning it is recommended to use medicinal table mineral water. Table mineral contains a minimum number of ions necessary for the therapeutic effect. Therapeutic is used under strict indications, as it has a number of contraindications.

But, like any medicine, mineral water in poisoning should be taken dosed. In addition to mineral water it is recommended to drink purified drinking water. In this case, the liquid with a high content of natural trace elements can be taken no longer than 7 days and no more than 1-1.5 liters per day.

People with acute and chronic kidney diseases should be especially careful when choosing therapeutic mineral waters. Also do not forget that mineral water is not a panacea for intoxication. It is necessary to restore the water-salt balance. That is, mineral water will not eliminate such symptoms as nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain.

Sparkling water for poisoning

To replenish lost fluids and cleanse the intestines of accumulated toxins, it is recommended to drink plenty of water. Both regular drinking water and carbonated water are suitable for this purpose.

In case of poisoning, it is recommended to choose strongly carbonated mineral water, but before drinking the liquid in a glass should stand for 2-3 minutes to let the gas escape a little (prevention of belching). Such drinking normalizes the water-salt balance, reduces nausea and vomiting, restores appetite.

Salt water for poisoning

To restore water-electrolyte balance and eliminate signs of intoxication, it is recommended to use a salt solution. Salt water in poisoning prevents dehydration, stimulates the work of glands and organs of internal secretion, namely the pancreas and gallbladder.

Useful properties of salt water in intoxication:

  • Replenishing the water balance.
  • Restoration of mineral reserves.
  • Normalization of stools.
  • Stops the processes of fermentation and putrefaction in the intestines.
  • Normalizes digestive processes.
  • Slows the expansion of foci of inflammation in the digestive and excretory systems of the body.
  • Destroys and promotes excretion of pathogens.

To treat poisoning, it is recommended to drink several glasses of clean water to induce vomiting and cleanse the body of food residues and toxic substances. Immediately after this, you need to drink a saline solution to replenish the loss of fluid. That is, the solution is not used for gastric lavage, it restores the water-salt balance.

The main indications for the use of salty liquid are:

  • Toxic damage to the GI tract (fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea).
  • Acute intestinal disorders (liquid stools with blood, painful urination and defecation).
  • Signs of acute dehydration (pale skin, severe thirst, weakness and dizziness, dark urine).

Saline solution is effective for food, chemical, alcohol and acid damage to the body.

To prepare the preparation at home, boil drinking water and cool it to room temperature. Dissolve 1 tsp of salt in 1 liter of water. The salt solution can be combined with glucose and soda solution.

There are pharmacy analogs of the water-salt solution:

  1. Rehydron - contains glucose, table salt, potassium salt of hydrochloric acid, citric acid in the form of salt.
  2. Ringer's Rastor - effectively restores fluid levels in the body. It is administered intravenously.
  3. Hydrovit - contains powerful natural absorbent silica, dextrose, sodium and potassium chloride. Authorized for use in children.

In addition to the above drugs, you can buy Humana, Glucosolan, Reosolan and other means in the pharmacy.

Saline solutions are contraindicated in exacerbation of GI diseases. Preparations are not used for a long period of time. In order not to provoke stomach cramps, the solution should be at room temperature.

Water with lemon for poisoning

To improve intestinal function, it is recommended to drink water with lemon. Citrus supports an acidic environment and promotes the cleansing of the intestinal walls. Prevents the formation of excess gas, improves metabolic processes.

The pulp and juice of lemon contain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory compounds that help the body to cope more quickly with pathogenic flora that provoked intoxication.

When drinking lemon water, you should not forget that citric acid is a caustic compound and has a number of contraindications:

  • Increased acidity of gastric juice.
  • Peptic ulcer disease, gastritis.
  • Citrus allergy.
  • Increased sensitivity of tooth enamel.

To prepare a therapeutic drink, a tablespoon of lemon juice should be mixed in a glass of warm water. The solution is taken 2-3 times a day.

A lemon-soda solution can be prepared to restore the acid-alkaline balance. Dilute the juice of ½ lemon in 100 ml of water and add ¼ teaspoon of baking soda. The finished liquid should be drunk while it fizzes. Such a remedy is taken once a day.

Water with manganese for poisoning

Potassium permanganate or potassium permanganate solution is a powder of dark purple color with fine-grained crystalline fractions and metallic glow. The pharmacological action of the drug consists in instant oxidation of toxins of organic and inorganic nature.

  • Manganese destroys the cell membranes of pathogenic microorganisms that poison food. It also interacts with toxins of alcohol, nicotine, hydrocyanic acid and other alkaloids, neutralizing them.
  • Manganese solution for poisoning, destroys toxins by breaking down magnesium oxide crystals.
  • Potassium permanganate constricts blood capillaries in the stomach tissues and slows the spread of intoxication in the body.

Due to this mechanism of action, manganese is effective not only in poisoning, but also in the defeat of the body by bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus.

The main indications for the use of potassium permanganate solution are:

  • Food and alcohol intoxication.
  • Poisoning by phosphorus, hydrocyanic acid, alkali, quinine alkaloid.

To treat intoxication, potassium permanganate is taken orally in diluted form. Several crystals of manganese are dissolved in a liter of water until the liquid is pale pink. Before using the solution, make sure that all the grits have dissolved, since they can provoke a burn of the mucosa of the esophagus and stomach. After taking the drug you should induce vomiting to cleanse the body, and then take saline solution.

Despite the fact that manganese is a gentle antiseptic, it should be used with extreme caution. If a highly concentrated solution gets inside, it will cause mucosal burns and inflammation. These consequences are dangerous with the formation of ulcers and erosions of the mucous membrane.

Potassium permanganate is prohibited in intoxications due to such substances:

  • Rubbing alcohol.
  • Iodine.
  • Phenol.
  • Strong acids and caustic alkalis.

The use of excessive doses of manganese may cause acute methemoglobenia. This condition is manifested by neurological disorders, hypoxia and risk of death. The drug is prohibited to use with allergic rhinitis, asthma and bronchitis. This is due to the fact that the peculiar odor and taste of the drug can provoke reflex narrowing of the laryngeal lumen or bronchospasms. In this case, you should choose a more gentle drug. Also, manganese should not be used to treat poisoning in children under 5 years of age.

Water with baking soda for poisoning

Soda is a popular remedy in the treatment of gastric problems (vomiting, heartburn, belching). Food or drinking soda is a white crystalline powder with no odor or distinct taste. When mixed with water, it forms an alkali, but does not dissolve in ethyl alcohol.

Sodium bicarbonate regulates the acid-base and electrolyte balance of the body. The beneficial properties of baking soda include:

  • Neutralizes the acidity of gastric juice.
  • Increases the alkaline reserve of the blood.
  • Alkalinizes urine, prevents the formation of concretions in the kidneys and bladder.
  • Liquefies phlegm and promotes its expulsion from the respiratory tract.
  • Destroys pathogenic flora in the intestines in severe diarrhea and more.

Water with soda is effective in food poisoning. That is, when pathogenic microorganisms (salmonella, rotavirus, dysentery bacillus and others) got into the stomach.

Recipes for baking soda solutions for vomiting:

  1. Cleansing - neutralizes mild forms of intoxication. Take 2/3 tbsp. Of soda and dissolve in a glass of water. The liquid is drunk in a volley, for each reception prepare a new solution. You can drink 2-3 glasses to provoke vomiting.
  2. Detoxification - used to eliminate toxins, cleanse the body of poisons and restore the work of internal organs. Dissolve 1/3 teaspoon of baking soda in a liter of water. The solution is taken until the appearance of the first gagging. After each attack of vomiting, the liquid coming out of the body should become clearer. Water with baking soda is taken until the vomiting masses become transparent. It is recommended to drink carbonated mineral water to maintain water balance.

Although most people tolerate baking soda well, it is contraindicated for people with hypocalcemia and renal insufficiency. Prolonged use of sodium bicarbonate solution causes abdominal pain due to increased gas formation.

Lemon water for poisoning

Water with the addition of lemon juice helps to improve digestive processes, so it is useful to use it in food poisoning and other types of intoxication of the body. Systematic use of lemon water is a kind of stimulation of the digestive system, makes the liver actively produce bile.

Useful properties of water with lemon:

  • Antimicrobial action.
  • Stabilization of acid-base balance.
  • Antioxidant effect.
  • Suppression of inflammatory reactions.
  • Removal of toxins, poisons and toxins.
  • Normalization of blood pressure.
  • Acceleration of cell regeneration processes.

To prepare a lemon solution, you should take a fresh citrus. In a glass of water add a couple of slices of lemon or a tablespoon of juice. The daily dose of the drink should not exceed 200 ml. The drink is recommended to take at the stage of recovery after acute poisoning or at the first symptoms of mild intoxication.

Oatmeal on water for poisoning

Intoxication negatively affects the body, weakens it. That is why the treatment of poisoning should include a gentle dietary regimen. In the first days of recovery, patients are recommended oatmeal on water and abundant drinking.

  • Oatmeal is a source of fiber and complex carbohydrates, contains important vitamins and trace elements for the body (magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, calcium, iodine, zinc).
  • Another plus in favor of porridge is its antioxidant properties. It normalizes intestinal function and envelops the stomach in a film, which greatly facilitates digestion.
  • Porridge helps with abdominal bloating, pain and discomfort in the stomach. It is prescribed for gastritis and ulcerative lesions of the GI tract.
  • Oatmeal supports the circulatory system and improves metabolic processes in the body.

To eliminate the effects of poisoning and cleanse the body of toxins, a classic oatmeal decoction will work well. For its preparation, three cups of washed oats are boiled in three liters of water for 20-30 minutes, and then placed in a thermos for 24 hours. After 24 hours, the decoction is strained through gauze and brought to a boil over medium heat. In the finished porridge add a couple drops of freshly squeezed juice. Oatmeal can be eaten during the day or as breakfast.

Rice water for poisoning

Another effective remedy in the fight against the consequences of poisoning is rice water. Such a decoction is authorized for use both for adults and children. It is prescribed for patients with gastritis and ulcerative lesions of the GI tract, normalizes metabolic processes and promotes weight loss.

  • Rice is a source of vitamin B and is a complex carbohydrate that takes part in energy metabolism. It also contains iron, phosphorus, zinc and other trace elements necessary for the full functioning of the body.
  • Rice absorbs into itself various substances, including toxic. Decoction on its basis normalizes the work of the stomach and intestines.
  • Any kind of cereal contains a large amount of soluble and insoluble dietary fiber, which helps to cleanse the body of toxins. Risk is slowly digested, so it provides a long-lasting energy boost and a feeling of satiety.

To prepare rice water take ordinary rice and rinse thoroughly in cold water until the liquid is no longer cloudy. Fill the groats with water in the proportion of 1:7 and bring to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover the rice with a lid, continuing to cook for another 20-30 minutes. When the rice is ready drain the water into a deep container and let it cool down. Ready decoction is effective for vomiting and diarrhea, it is taken ½ cup 2-3 times a day until the improvement of the general condition.

But despite all the useful properties, rice water has a number of contraindications that should be taken into account before using it. Rice should not be taken with a high temperature, since most often it is a sign of infectious intoxication. Decoction is forbidden with a tendency to constipation and the presence of large clots of mucus in the feces in diarrhea. If after 2-3 days of using rice water, the patient's condition has not improved, then you should immediately seek medical help.

Water poisoning in children

To combat the symptoms of food intoxication in children, it is recommended to induce vomiting to free the gastrointestinal tract from toxins. But it should be remembered that the amount of fluid allowed to take directly depends on the age of the child.

  • After each bout of vomiting and liquid stools, babies under two years of age should drink 50-100 ml of fluid.
  • For children from 2 to 10 years - 100-200 ml.
  • Children over 10 years of age - more than 200 ml.

That is, for 4 hours babies from 6 to 12 months can drink 400-800 ml of H2O, from 1 to 2 years - no more than 1 liter, and for children over two years - 1-1.5 liters of water. These figures are approximate, as they should be calculated by a pediatrician individually for each small patient, taking into account his age and body weight.

If poisoning in a child runs with severe diarrhea and vomiting, then rice water will help. To prepare a decoction, take a tablespoon of rice and rinse several times. Pour the groats with a glass of water and put on the fire, covering the container with rice with a lid. Cook on low heat for 40-60 minutes, if necessary you can add more liquid. As soon as the groats are ready, they should be strained. The decoction is poured into a cup and cooled to room temperature. With severe diarrhea and other signs of intoxication, rice water is taken 50 ml three times a day.

Use Water in poisoning: can you drink and what kind? during pregnancy

One of the most effective recommendations for pregnant women who have experienced poisoning is to drink more purified drinking water. In this case, increased fluid intake will help to eliminate from the GI tract toxins and food residues that caused the symptoms of intoxication.

It is also beneficial to drink water with meals. Stirring food with liquid improves the digestive process and signals the thirst center about the sufficient amount of H2O in the body. This method will help avoid edema, which many expectant mothers face.

Contraindications

Drinking plenty of water improves intestinal function, increases its peristalsis. Thanks to this accelerates the passage of food through the GI tract and more effectively excreted digestive products. But excessive water consumption leads to the fact that the pancreas and gallbladder are saturated with fluid and begin to work poorly. The level of secreted bile and other secretions decreases. Intestinal mucosa gradually swells, which is manifested by constipation and lead to general slagging of the body.

Side effects Water in poisoning: can you drink and what kind?

Water is pharmacologically indifferent. That is, it does not cause side effects and undesirable reactions in the body. But the abuse of water has an increased load on the kidneys, which prevents them from supplying the blood with the necessary substances.

Also, excessive fluid intake leads to the leaching of sodium and other trace elements from the body. This is dangerous in the development of such a disease as hyponatremia. The pathological condition is manifested by convulsions, dizziness, depression and confusion in the patient.

Overdose

Excessive water consumption leads to hyperhydration, i.e. Poisoning. Such an overdose is diagnosed quite often and it is dangerous with rather dire consequences.

  • When large amounts of H2O are consumed in a short period of time, sodium salts and other minerals are actively eliminated from the body.
  • The pathologic condition is manifested by acute headaches, dizziness and vomiting.
  • In particularly severe cases, it leads to cerebral edema, paralysis of the respiratory system and coma.

But to face the above consequences should suppress the gag reflex, which in poisoning to do contraindicated and quite difficult.

Mineral water should be taken with special caution. Abuse of carbonated liquid can cause salt deposits in the joints, formation of concretions in the organs of the urinary system.

Interactions with other drugs

According to studies, water is pharmacologically indifferent, that is, it is harmless. Water interacts well with any medicines. Purified and drinkable liquid does not cause adverse reactions and other pathological reactions in the body.

Storage conditions

The quality of drinking water directly depends on its storage conditions. If we consider popular bottled water, closed bottles should be stored in a cool place protected from direct sunlight.

When the body is intoxicated, it is not recommended to use running water if it is not purified. Since there is a risk of aggravation of the disease state and exacerbation of symptoms of poisoning.

Shelf life

The shelf life of a water bottle after opening is 10-14 days. Closed bottles should be used within 6 months from the date of manufacture. As for tap water, which is purified using various filter jugs, it is not recommended to store the liquid for longer than 24 hours.

Testimonials

According to numerous reviews, water in poisoning is one of the most effective and affordable means in the fight against painful symptoms. Proper consumption of liquid cleanses the gastrointestinal tract from toxins, and mineral water restores water-salt balance and prevents dehydration. Thanks to this, the patient's condition quickly returns to normal, digestive processes are normalized.

Attention!

To simplify the perception of information, this instruction for use of the drug " Water in poisoning: can you drink and what kind?" translated and presented in a special form on the basis of the official instructions for medical use of the drug. Before use read the annotation that came directly to medicines.

Description provided for informational purposes and is not a guide to self-healing. The need for this drug, the purpose of the treatment regimen, methods and dose of the drug is determined solely by the attending physician. Self-medication is dangerous for your health.

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