8. Carbon monoxide poisoning

Question 1

What is carbon monoxide?

Answer 1

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is ubiquitous because it is created whenever carbon-containing materials are burned.

Question 2

What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?

Answer 2

1. Light headed, Headache and dizziness
2. Fatigue and a feeling of weakness (Asthenia).
3. Nausea or vomiting (Often believe they are victims of food poisoning).
4. Infants may be irritable and feed poorly.
5. Neurological signs: confusion, disorientation, visual disturbance, syncope (fainting), and seizures.

Question 3

How do you treat Carbon Monoxide poisoning?

Answer 3

1. 100 % O2 (Antidote = Oxygen!)
2. brain edema: glucocorticoids, mannitol
3. acidosis – alkali therapy

Question 4

How frequent is Carbon Monoxide poisoning?

Answer 4

Its the leading cause of death due to poisoning in the USA! In Hungary there are 10-20 deaths annually.

Question 5

Pharmacokinetics of carbon monoxide?

Answer 5

1. Its affinity to hemoglobin is about 2-300 times that of O2, CO2 displaces O2, CO-Hb is formed.
2. Its binding to hemoglobin is reversible.