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Symptoms of Poisoning
The symptoms of poisoning depend on the substance and amount taken. Some poisonous substances, such as carbon monoxide, interfere with the blood's ability to carry oxygen, while others, such as bleach, burn and irritate the digestive system. Symptoms of poisoning can include:
- nausea,
- vomiting and/or diarrhoea,
- abdominal pain,
- drowsiness, dizziness or weakness,
- fever,
- chills (shivering),
- loss of appetite,
- headache or irritability,
- difficulty swallowing or producing more saliva than normal,
- skin rash,
- burns around the nose or mouth,
- double or blurred vision,
- seizures (fits),
- coma.
Parents and carers should be aware of unexplained illness in young children, especially if they are drowsy or unconscious, as poisoning could be the cause. However, in most cases there aren’t any symptoms either because the adult in charge quickly discovers what the child has taken and gets treatment, or the child only takes in a tiny amount of the poison.
If a person becomes ill without any obvious cause or reason, poisoning should be considered, especially if they are found near a poisonous substance.
