The poisoning with salts of heavy metals

Today, more and more frequent poisoning with salts. The reason is not only the widespread use of salts in production, household and various branches of the economy, but also the widespread distribution of chemicals in nature. They are part of many things and chemical compounds. The peculiarity is that they can not be called harmful. Under certain conditions, they have useful properties, and can cause irreparable damage to health under different conditions.

To meet substances that are both useful and act as poisons can almost everywhere. They are part of the soil, are part of the air, and even synthesized in living organisms. Many substances are synthesized by the human body, and without them, its full existence and functioning is impossible.

Very few people know that the oxygen we breathe, and without which it is impossible to maintain life on earth, is the most powerful poisonous substance. It causes the aging of the body gradually, and in large quantities it causes the development of oxygen stress, which will allow the cellular structures and genetic material, and lead to the death of the body. At the same time, salts of heavy metals often benefit. Only if they accumulate excessively in the body, poisoning occurs.

Epidemiology

Even now, people use in everyday life and everyday life various objects and things that have a poisonous effect. Many elements are capable of accumulation in the body. Gradually they can cause chronic poisoning. So, utensils from aluminum, pots made of galvanized, various impurities and paints used in the manufacture of goods. Even ordinary water can cause toxic reactions, because it contains a large amount of chlorine, its derivatives.

Household appliances today are also a source of toxins and radiation. The air is polluted by exhaust fumes. These are the sources that each of us has to face, regardless of the way of life. These sources account for approximately 72% of chronic and acute poisoning. In many people, intoxication is hidden and chronic.

The gradual accumulation of toxins in the body entails a weakening of the immune system, resulting in a weakening of the defenses of the body, as well as a decrease in endurance and resistance. Often a violation of general immunity entails a violation of local immunity, dysbiosis. This, in turn, leads to autoimmune pathologies, autointoxication, development of bacterial and fungal infections. These pathologies are now found in 84% of people. And there is a tendency to rejuvenate autoimmune and dysbiotic pathologies. Today they are found even in children under 14 years old (31% of cases).

Dysbiosis is characteristic even in infants (11% of cases). Further secondary dysbiosis usually originates from primary disturbances (in 86% of cases) of normal microflora, which is formed in the first days of the child's life as a result of passing through the birth canal and the first contact with the mother.

In turn, a violation of the normal microbiocenosis of the parturient child, entails serious disturbances in the microflora of the child, since it is the mother's microflora that is the primary medium that colonizes the skin and mucous membranes of the child. In the future it is this flora that is the base on which the secondary microflora is formed.

Dysbiosis is the initial stage, after which bacterial and viral infections are formed (51%). Also, impaired microflora is a good soil for further colonization of fungal infections (27%). Dysbacteriosis as a secondary pathology, resulting from acute poisoning, drug intake, the effects of other factors, occurs in 16% of cases.

In agriculture, various pesticides, herbicides, and other toxins are used (10% of cases). Even dentistry today is a source of toxic substances. So, tooth filling implies the use of amalgam, which includes mercury (2% of poisonings).

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5],

Causes The poisoning with salts of heavy metals

In general, poisoning happens when working with poisonous substances in factories, factories, and production. Often poisoning happens in the laboratory, especially if the work is conducted in closed rooms, with idle exhaust. Often poisoning occurs during research in test shops, research centers and institutes, in pharmaceutical companies.

Often there is a leak and poisoning not only employees, but also other people, pollution of the environment. This happens in case of accidents, emergency situations. Many poisonings happen in everyday life. Many have vegetable gardens, farms, agricultural plots. For processing, various chemical compounds are used, prepared independently, or bought in specialized stores. Widespread use of herbicides, pesticides, means for baiting rodents, other pests.

Often careless attitude to poisons, non-observance of safety at work, inaccurate storage, can lead to poisoning. Even trivial inattention often leads to poisoning. Thus, storing poisonous substances together with food and additives almost always ends in poisoning. If stored in a conspicuous place, children may be poisoned, as they almost always taste everything new. Often poisoning happens against a background of alcohol abuse, or in a state of drug intoxication. Some use poisons to commit suicide.

[6], [7]

Risk factors

People who have permanent or temporary contact with toxic substances are at risk. Most often these are workers of industrial enterprises, agricultural lands. Also, people who carry out deratization, treatment with herbicides, pesticides and other agents are included in the risk group. It's risky and just people who are careless about storing and using poisons, acids.

[8], [9]

Pathogenesis

Each salt has its own mechanism of action. Most often they get through the digestive system. Less often, poisoning occurs through the skin. The ability to penetrate through the skin is, for example, mercury. Then the substances get into the blood, spread over the body and have a damaging effect.

The main accumulation of salts occurs in the bone marrow, kidneys, liver, lungs, spleen, and other organs, which are responsible for the basic, vital processes in the body. Dangerous is a violation of the work of the heart, blood vessels, the composition and function of blood. As a result of accumulation, a depot of toxic substances is formed, toxins begin to persist in the body, causing chronic poisoning.

Also a certain danger is the fact that salts can cause a strong local irritation. They irritate the mucous membranes and skin. Also, salts can cauterize blood vessels and tissues, resulting in a chemical burn. Excretion of salts occurs mainly with urine and feces, which creates an additional burden on the body.

[10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16],

Symptoms The poisoning with salts of heavy metals

It is necessary to distinguish between acute and chronic poisoning. These forms can have different manifestations. Also, the symptomatology depends on what substance caused the poisoning. An important way of penetrating the substance into the body. The main way of penetrating the poison into the body is the digestive tract. The main sign of poisoning is the appearance of a peculiar taste in the mouth. This is most often a metallic taste in the mouth, less often - the smell of acetone from the mouth. There is redness of the skin, swelling and hyperemia of the skin, mucous membranes. First of all, the mucous membrane of the mouth and eyes suffers. When swallowing, there is often a pain, burning, which is intensified as the food lump passes through the esophagus.

Also, poisoning is accompanied by severe pain in the abdomen. Dyspeptic phenomena can occur, in particular, vomiting, diarrhea, severe nausea. In some cases, for example, lead poisoning, development of constipation may occur. In severe poisoning, which is accompanied by a lesion of the digestive tract, bleeding develops. Often the source of bleeding is the esophagus, stomach, intestines. In the presence of ulcers, small erosions, bleeding can be abundant. As a rule, these diseases begin to progress.

Especially dangerous is the poisoning with lead and mercury, which is accompanied by loosening of the teeth and strong pain in the oral cavity. Also observed bleeding gums, profuse salivation. There is inflammation and swelling of the mucous membrane of the throat, trachea, nasal cavity, inflamed lymph nodes. A sign of copper poisoning can be the appearance of a blue hue in the vomit.

Also a symptom of poisoning is a violation of the normal functioning of the heart, the circulatory system. The blood pressure may rise or fall sharply, the pulse becomes fast or slow. Often there is a sharp change in status: high pressure is accompanied by a sharp drop, which is the cause of severe circulatory disorders and can lead to even such serious complications as myocardial infarction, or stroke. There is shortness of breath, cyanosis, or hyperemia. Some areas may turn pale, which depends on the pigmentation and blood circulation characteristics, as well as the degree of hemoglobin hemoglobin saturation.

Usually there is a violation of consciousness. For example, poisoning with salts of heavy metals is often accompanied by euphoria and psychomotor agitation, against which disorientation develops. A person can be stunned. More severe consequences of poisoning are coma, sopor, loss of consciousness. Often poisoning is accompanied by hallucinations, insomnia, aggression, fears. The gait becomes unstable, coordination of movements is disrupted.

Also, the load falls on the kidneys and liver. The consequence of damage to the kidneys are severe forms of nephropathy. The most serious complication is renal failure. In the early stages of damage to the liver and kidneys, daily diuresis is reduced to a minimum, may even develop a complete absence of urination. A characteristic sign, indicating the poisoning with thallium, is a green shade of urine. In the blood, many biochemical parameters also change, in particular, the indices of creatinine and urea change.

Almost all types of poisoning are accompanied by visual disorders. A person can double in the eyes, vision is sharply reduced.

Chronic intoxication is often accompanied by weakness, decreased endurance and resistance of the body, a sharp deterioration in well-being. Will burn up the body temperature. A dangerous sign of severe chronic intoxication is hemolysis of blood, which is accompanied by the destruction of red blood cells and the release of free hemoglobin into the blood, resulting in a blue tint. The skin also becomes blue. When lead poisoning, the temperature, on the contrary, drops sharply. There is a toxic shock, which often ends in death.

First signs

They are determined by what kind of poison the person has poisoned, and by what means it has penetrated the body. The first signs make themselves felt immediately, once the poison has penetrated the body. They manifest themselves before the poison is absorbed into the blood. So, when a person inhales a poison, a dry cough appears , which exhausts the person, but relief and coughing does not occur. Sputum rarely occurs. In some cases, after a prolonged cough, an attack of suffocation may occur , accompanied by the release of sputum. In addition, impurities of blood appear in the sputum . Later, within a few hours, the temperature may rise.

When penetrating the poison through the skin, there is a sharp development of contact dermatitis. Pairs of mercury most often penetrate through the skin. A characteristic sign of such dermatitis is soreness in palpation, a feeling of itching, burning. The rash spreads fairly quickly, often acquiring a bright red hue. Later, hair follicles become inflamed, hyperthermia appears. After the poison has sucked into the blood, the general symptoms of intoxication develop.

The first sign, which indicates a poisoning with thallium, is muscle weakness. Especially strongly weaken limbs, hair falls out sharply , the sensitivity of the skin, limbs decreases. When the chromium is poisoned, the through hole in the nasal septum firstly appears.

[17], [18], [19], [20]

Stages

Poisoning takes place in several stages. At an early stage, the substance enters the body, but is not yet absorbed into the blood. At this stage, a favorable prognosis is still possible if the substance is quickly removed from the body and does not allow it to be absorbed into the blood.

After absorption, the second stage begins - systemic lesions of internal organs, the spread of poison with blood. At this stage it is still possible to remove the poison from the body, neutralizing its action with the help of an antidote, emergency therapy. If, at this stage, do not provide the necessary assistance, death occurs.

[21], [22]

Forms

They are poisoned by drugs, chemicals, plant components and fungi, endotoxins, bacterial and viral toxins.

A characteristic feature of all salts of heavy metals is that they have a low capacity for absorption through the skin. The exception is mercury, which is most intensively absorbed through the skin. Therefore,  mercury poisoning  occurs very quickly. Heavy metals are also poorly absorbed and through the mucous membranes, and through the digestive tract. Nevertheless, the symptoms of heavy metals damage are manifested fairly quickly and are difficult. Their action is based on various mechanisms of action.

Many of them have a cauterizing and irritating effect on the skin and mucous membranes, can cause severe forms of chemical burns. Differ from other types of poisoning in that there is a characteristic unpleasant aftertaste in the mouth, often reminiscent of the taste of metal. After this, strong painful sensations develop mainly in the area of the digestive tract. The person is salivatingly salivary, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. If you do not provide first aid in time, you may develop a toxic shock, which often results in a fatal outcome.

Most often they are poisoned by mercury. On the second place there are poisonings with silver, zinc, copper, and other metals. For many heavy metals, a resorptive effect is characteristic, which appears only a few hours after the penetration of substances into the body. Immediately there are signs of damage to the nervous system - a sharp excitement, which is accompanied by depression and violation of the heart. Euphoria is sharply replaced by apathy, after which convulsions appear, weakness develops, blood pressure drops, the pulse becomes weak, or vice versa, sharply increases. First, the excretory function of the kidneys is sharply increased, daily diuresis is greatly increased, followed by a decrease in urination.

Kidney damage usually occurs 2-3 days after the ingestion of a poison into the body. Before this, you do not need to admit, because often the kidney damage is irreversible, the prognosis after this is extremely unfavorable. Also from the mucous membranes there are such pathologies as erosions, stomatitis, inflammatory processes of the gums.

When poisoning with salts of heavy metals, first aid should be given immediately. First you need to take measures to remove the poison from the body. In doing so, apply any available methods. In a hospital, the stomach is washed. Before the arrival of an ambulance, you can simply induce vomiting in any possible way.

After the poison was removed from the stomach, prevented its further absorption, neutralizing therapy is performed, during which neutralize the action of those toxins that have already penetrated into the blood. At this stage, most often used antidotes, which help to neutralize the poison and withdraw it from the body. Also, the affected person is given milk, egg white, or any medicinal products and decoctions with enveloping action. This prevents the absorption of toxins into the blood, if they are still in the body, and also protects the digestive tract and mucous membranes from irritating effects. Then give sorbents, which bind and bring out toxins. Well suited enterosgel, activated charcoal, other medicines.

Only after the threat of life has passed, it is possible to conduct supporting and restorative therapy, which is aimed at restoring the normal functioning of all organs and systems, preventing the effects of poisoning.

For salts of heavy metals, there is an antidote, which greatly facilitates therapy. In order to achieve a positive effect as quickly as possible, it is necessary to introduce the antidote as often as possible. Basically, it is administered parenterally.

For example, to treat mercury poisoning, unithiol and sodium sulfate are used, which have the ability to bind mercury ions. They prevent the absorption of ions into the blood, their further spread, and also block the activity of enzymes, which is aimed at destroying the complexes that are formed as a result of the interaction of mercury ions with the antidote.

Sodium sulfate is also quite effective, due to the ability to form with the active substance non-toxic salts (sulfites), which are administered intravenously. At the same time, glucose solutions and other maintenance solutions are introduced, which make it possible to maintain the energy and nutritional base of the organism.

Also various means of symptomatic therapy are used, which eliminate the main symptoms of pathology. For example, with severe pain, various pain relievers are used, ranging from mild ones, such as no-shpa, diclofenac, nurofen, to strong analgesics such as morphine, promedol, and others. Anti-inflammatory drugs are used in the presence of an inflammatory process. To remove the edema and hyperemia may require therapy with anti-allergic, antihistamines. Sometimes there is a need for vasoconstrictor, antispasmodics. Introduce drugs that allow you to maintain normal blood circulation, pressure.

When poisoning with chlorine ions for gastric lavage, tools such as sodium chloride are used. We need a solution of 1-2% concentration. The poisoning with silver salts also requires the introduction of 1-2% sodium chloride solution. Washing with water is inefficient because it contains a small amount of chlorine, which forms low-stable compounds with any toxic substances, especially metals. Also used is a purgative for cleansing the prima of the intestine, the lower parts of the digestive tract. The usual castor oil proved to be very good. It should also be remembered that sodium thiosulfate is not capable of forming stable complexes with silver ions, so it is not used as an antidote.

Poisoning with thallium salts

Cases of thallium poisoning are a frequent phenomenon at the present time. Although this element in nature and life is not very common. But still it is used in the manufacture of contact lenses, and it is also part of the fireworks. Therefore, thallium poisoning can be attributed more likely to professional poisoning, which occurs in people who work in industrial plants. Also, often farm staff, farmers, gardeners and truck farmers often are exposed to this type of poisoning. This is explained by the fact that thallium is a part of many means for spraying and irrigation. It is used to treat plants from pests and diseases.

Today, poisonings are increasingly observed, which are the result of negligent handling of chemicals. Often, if the safety precautions and reagent storage rules are not observed, the children are poisoned. Often, thallium is taken deliberately, for the purpose of suicide.

Thallium is the 81 element represented in the periodic table. It is a simple substance that has a white color and an easy bluish tint. Refers to metals of high enough density. The melting point is at least 300 degrees, the boiling point reaches 1500 degrees. The name comes from the color of the spectral line and is translated as a "green twig". A characteristic sign that distinguishes poisoning from thallium from other types of poisoning is a green tinge that appears in the emetic masses and feces of the victim.

By the beginning of the 20th century, specific properties of thallium preparations were discovered, which led to its further application in the production and chemical industry. In 1920, a patented poison against rodents was obtained in Germany, which included thallium sulfate.

In medicine, thallium salts are used that cause temporary baldness, for the treatment of ringworm. The widespread use of thallium is hindered by the fact that the difference between toxic and therapeutic doses is very small. The toxicity of thallium and its salts requires that they be treated with care and attention.

Some isotopes are used in medicine for cardiac studies. Thallium is found in plant and animal organisms. It was found in tobacco, chicory roots, spinach, beech wood, in grapes, beets and other plants, in marine life - jellyfish, anemones, sea stars. Beets are able to accumulate thallium, literally pulling it out of soil containing a minimal, practically undetectable concentration of metal.

Like thallium itself, and its salts, the compounds are highly toxic. Symptoms of thallium poisoning are the defeat of the nervous system, kidneys, stomach, hair loss (allopecia). A dose of 600 mg is considered fatal for a person. As an antidote for thallium or its salts, Berlin azure (blue pigment, a mixture of hexacyanoferrates) is used.

As a treatment, traditional supportive and restorative treatment is used, which is applied after stabilization of the condition and neutralization of the poison. On a full recovery usually takes about 2 weeks. Complex therapy is applied, which includes etiological and symptomatic treatment.

A case of mass poisoning with thallium, which was registered back in 1988 in Chernivtsi, is known. So, in the autumn of this year, children began to massively flop. The hair of the toddlers remained on the pads after sleep, combs, they were removed together with the caps. This was preceded by an increase in temperature and inflammation in the upper respiratory tract.

Although there was no high thallium content in the environment in the city, there were reasons to assume, based on the results of morphological studies, that the cause of the disease was the effect of this chemical element, possibly in combination with other and toxic substances (metals), which also were found in the hair of sick children. Now this disease, which affects children, is known as a "Chernivtsi chemical disease".

[23], [24], [25], [26], [27]

Poisoning with magnesium salts

Magnesium is an important and irreplaceable substance that is part of our body. Normally, the body should have at least 25 grams of magnesium, which is about 1%. It is especially important for the normal functioning of muscles, and soft tissues. It is also important for maintaining the normal state of bones. Lack of substance entails serious impairment of the functional state of the body. Therefore, magnesium is often prescribed as a drug. It is important to choose the right dosage correctly, as exceeding it can lead to poisoning.

Cases of overdose are not common, however, if they happen, the consequences can be very serious. It is known that it disturbs the heart activity, irritates the digestive tract, depresses the breath, negatively affects the functioning of the nervous system. Squeezing the chest leads to the fact that the filling of the lungs with air decreases, a lack of oxygen and an excess of carbon dioxide build up in the blood. As a result, hypoxia appears, which is dangerous for oxygen starvation of organs and tissues. This leads to hypotension, at which pressure falls sharply, the main reflexes are suppressed. Especially dangerous is an overdose of magnesium in bronchial asthma, since a prolonged attack, choking, can develop.

Violated the main reflexes, develops an arrhythmia, later there are dyspeptic disorders, such as nausea, vomiting. Often poisoning is accompanied by severe diarrhea. A dangerous sign is oppression of cardiac activity, after which there is a stopping of breathing. Poisoning often ends in a fatal outcome.

Therefore, when poisoning with magnesium, you need to give the victim as soon as possible first aid. First, it is necessary to prevent the absorption of magnesium into the blood, after which it is necessary to neutralize that part of the substance that has already absorbed into the blood, and only then can proceed with further therapy. Usually, the stomach is washed with a large amount of water until pure water forms. Almost always require intravenous infusion of maintenance drugs, such as glucose, saline, Ringer's solution. A positive effect is exerted by calcium gluconate. It normalizes the basic biochemical indicators.

Especially dangerous is poisoning for people suffering from kidney disease. They often develop kidney failure. In this case, hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis is required. During therapy, it is necessary to regularly monitor the content of magnesium and sodium in urine and blood. With increased content, additional treatment is performed.

Poisoning with salts of mercury

Mercury is a simple substance found in the periodic table at number 80. It is a brilliant, silvery-white liquid that has the property of volatility. The melting point is within 38 degrees, the boiling point reaches 357 degrees.

Known long ago, even before our era. In Greek, it means "liquid silver" or "silver water". The second name of this element is Mercury. This substance was named after the Greek god, who is known for its speed, speed. Unsurprisingly, the speed of action is very high. If you do not provide timely first aid, the victim dies within a few hours.

Mercury is the only liquid metal. In the distant years was an indispensable accessory in the chemical arsenal of alchemists. Mercury compounds were previously widely used as antiseptic (sulem), laxative (mercuric nitrate), as a preservative (organic derivatives), in later terms - polivaccine (merthiolate).

The most dangerous for a man is a pair of metallic mercury, mercury and mercury are organic compounds. Mercury and its derivatives affect the nervous system, liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, inhalation - respiratory tract (mercury vapors do not smell, that is, any warning signs). According to the hazard class, mercury is referred to the first class (an extremely dangerous chemical substance).

Mercury and its derivatives are global pollutants of the environment. Especially dangerous are their releases into the water, because as a result of the activity of the microorganisms inhabiting the bottom, methylmercury soluble in water is formed.

Methylmercury and other organic compounds are more toxic than inorganic, because they are able to effectively interact with elements of facultative systems of the body, penetrate into the central nervous system, affecting the brain.

Depending on the amount of mercury and the duration of its intake into the human body, acute and chronic poisonings are possible, as well as micromercurialism - irregularities (not clearly expressed and even hidden) caused by exposure to low concentrations of mercury vapor. The most sensitive to mercury poisoning are women and children.

In the history of past and recent times, many cases of mercury poisoning have been recorded, numerous examples of which end in a lethal outcome. A significant number of poisonings is associated with the development of mercury production and its diverse technological applications. The common name for such diseases is mercury. One of the manifestations of this pathology is "mad hatter disease" - mental disorders in workers in felt industries, where mercury nitrate was used.

In the 20-ies. In the last century, German alchemists found that mercury poisoning can occur when very low concentrations of mercury vapor (in the order of hundredths, thousandths and even less than a milligram per cubic meter) enter the body.

The danger to human health of mercury vapor, as well as its compounds, has been known for a long time. Mercury can enter the body in the form of vapors through the respiratory tract, often through contaminated hands during meals, in limited quantities - through the skin. But the main way of getting mercury into the body is still the respiratory system. The main symptoms of exposure to mercury are headache, increased excitability, decreased efficiency. Often urine is found to contain elevated levels of mercury, although there may not be a direct correlation between mercury content in urine and the severity of its effects. In acute poisoning with mercury, especially when it enters the stomach of its dissociating salts (mercuric dioxide, mercuric nitrate), it is necessary to administer unithiol or other antidote preparations (BAL, succimer), show also the Strizhevsky antidote (hydrogen sulphide-saturated alkaline water), methionine, pectin. For more information on the treatment of mercury poisoning, click here.

A characteristic feature of micromercurialism is the prolonged preservation of the phase of increased excitability of the cerebral cortex with the concomitant pathological lability of the vegetative nervous system.

One of the debatable aspects of the "mercury hazard" remains the question whether it is dangerous or harmless to have so-called amalgam fillings in the teeth of a person. As is known, the use of copper amalgam containing 50% mercury, silver, zinc and tin is practiced in modern dentistry, and has come from a long time ago. The question of the dangers of its use as a filling material is still completely unresolved.

Many people assume that mercury, regularly supplied from such seals, causes latent intoxication. Gradually there is a decrease in immune-biological reactivity. In some studies, it has been shown that after the withdrawal of amalgam fillings in patients, they have a 55% increase in the number of so-called T-lymphocytes, i.e. Cell immunity improves. Also negatively such seals are reflected on the state of the thyroid gland, testicles, prostate gland.

Do not bypass mercury and its salts with their attention and criminals. Their favorite weapon has long been, and until now remains a mercury in the form of high toxicity. This is confirmed by numerous examples from judicial practice.

Complications and consequences

They are dangerous for various damaging effects. Everything depends on what substance the person has poisoned, what is its concentration, how it penetrates, how long the substance has acted. In any case, as soon as possible to provide first aid, call an ambulance, further treatment.

The most dangerous complications are severe lesions of the cardiovascular and respiratory system, renal and hepatic insufficiency. The dangerous consequences of poisoning are damage to the nervous system. Chronic poisoning is dangerous because anemia, hypoxia, red blood cells can develop. It must always be remembered that any poisoning, even intoxication with ordinary salt, can result in death.

[28], [29], [30]

Diagnostics The poisoning with salts of heavy metals

A general clinical picture of poisoning is important for the diagnosis. It is she who can roughly indicate what substance a person has poisoned, in what way it has penetrated the body. It is from this that further treatment will depend. After first aid, when the main threat of life has passed, a comprehensive diagnosis is carried out, which allows to select further restorative and maintenance treatment, depending on the damage of specific organs and systems and manifested symptoms.

[31], [32], [33], [34],

Analyzes

In order to accurately determine the active substance, which has a toxic effect on the body, conduct a toxicological study. It makes it possible to accurately detect the substance and determine its concentration in the body. On this depends the effectiveness of further therapy, and first aid. So, if you know exactly what substance caused the poisoning, you can enter the antidote and neutralize its effect.

At the stage of restorative treatment, they look at how the salt acted on the body, what changes have taken place, and in accordance with this, the necessary treatment is selected. So, important information can be obtained by conducting a clinical blood test. He will show a general picture of the pathology, and will help determine the course of further treatment and examination. With the help of biochemical analysis, it is also possible to reveal numerous changes in the biochemical state of the organism. It is biochemistry that determines the physiological and functional state of the organism. The slightest change in the biochemical background entails changes in the activity of the main organs and systems.

It is important to study the leukocyte formula. An increase in the number of neutrophils indicates acute poisoning and a high concentration of toxin in the blood. The appearance of a large number of plasma cells in the serum may indicate the development of severe liver damage, the development of toxic hepatitis. Neutrophils and plasmocytes increase sharply with intoxication shock, or pre-shocks, and also indicates the development of inflammatory processes, damage to the liver and heart muscle. In this case, the content of stab neutrophils can increase, the appearance of immature granulocytes (myelocytes, metamyelocytes) is detected, which is regarded as a shift of the leukocyte formula to the left.

An increase in the number of eosinophils can be observed in severe poisoning, in which toxic substances in large quantities enter the blood. A sharp increase in the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation (ESR) may indicate poisoning by substances of chemical origin. A decrease in the number of platelets manifested alcohol intoxication, poisoning with salts of heavy metals.

Significant information can show a urine test. So, a sharp increase in daily diuresis, may indicate a violation of the normal functioning of the kidneys. With an intoxication shock, cardiac decompensation, severe kidney damage, collapse, there may be a sharp decrease in daily diuresis. Most often, such a decrease is a consequence of poisoning with salts of lead, arsenic, bismuth. Complete cessation of urine (anuria) is a bad sign, indicates a severe poisoning. It can be observed with a sharp manifestation of the syndrome of acute renal failure, terminal stage of heart failure, acute blood loss, indomitable vomiting, severe forms of acute nephrosis.

Ishuria urine (its delay in the bladder and the inability to self-urinate) indicates a violation of the neuromuscular apparatus, which arose as a consequence of toxic effects. Increasing the relative density of urine is also one of the signs of intoxication and indicates the development of nephrotic syndrome and congestion in the heart. With the development of bleeding, urine can become dark brown, with renal colic, a kidney infarction, urine acquires a red tint, acute nephritis is accompanied by the acquisition of urine of the type of meat slops. When a yellow-green tinge appears in the urine, liver damage occurs.

Investigating the feces, you can get a clinical picture of the pathological processes occurring in the gastrointestinal tract, the liver. The main diagnostic criterion is the detection of latent blood in the stool. This sign can indicate the development of necrotic, degenerative processes in the intestine, stomach.

[35], [36], [37]

Instrumental diagnostics

It is used to detect pathology that occurs in internal organs. Often appointed on the basis of preliminary laboratory tests. So, if clinical analyzes of blood and urine indicate kidney or liver damage, it is advisable to conduct additional research with ultrasound. It allows us to study the anatomical and morphological features of the organ under investigation and to identify possible pathologies and take the necessary measures. Ultrasound can track processes in dynamics.

With the help of X-ray research, it is possible to visualize the main pathologies occurring in the body, and also to track some processes in the picture and in dynamics.

With signs of gastrointestinal lesion, gastroscopy, rectoscopy, X-ray examination, ultrasound and others are performed . They make it possible to identify and visualize lesions, the degree and stage of the burn and inflammatory process, and to determine the necessary treatment.

If there are signs of damage to the heart muscle, insufficiency, it is advisable to conduct ultrasound of the heart, electrocardiography, and other studies.

Differential diagnosis

The basis for differential diagnosis of poisoning is the need to accurately determine the substance that causes the poisoning effect. To do this, toxicological research is used as the main research method. If necessary, use additional biochemical methods for determining the substance in human biological fluids.

[38], [39], [40]

Treatment The poisoning with salts of heavy metals

Salt poisoning requires mandatory antidote administration. At the beginning of the washing and at the end of the procedure, an antidote - 5% Unithiol solution (up to 300 ml) is injected through the probe. When lead poisoning is preferred, 2% solution of soda is preferred. You can use saline solution.

Details on how to treat salt poisoning, read in this article.

Prevention

For the prevention of poisoning, you must strictly observe safety techniques when working with salts. Salt poisoning can be prevented if you work with them carefully and observe safety procedures. At the enterprise it is important to conduct briefings, train employees and demand from them the use of protective equipment.

At home, try not to store salts that have a toxic effect. If such salts are stored, it is necessary to keep them separate from food, away from children.

[41], [42]

Forecast

If the first aid is provided in a timely manner, the prognosis may be favorable. Salt can be neutralized, removed from the body. Gradually, after the necessary treatment, the body will be fully restored. If first aid is not immediately available after the substance has entered the body,  salt poisoning  can have fatal consequences.

[43], [44]