ed 3c Flashcards
Lead
is a natural metal found in the ground. Before 1970 it was
used in many building materials and lead is still used in industry
today.
▸ paint in older buildings
▸ contaminated water from pipes
▸ imported toys
▸ lead in fishing sinkers and other metal objects
signs of lead poisoning
acute exposure
Acute exposure
➤ Muscle pains
➤ Abdominal
discomfort
➤ Lethargy
➤ Headache
➤ Vomiting
➤ Fits
➤ Coma
lead poisoning chronic exposure
Chronic exposure
➤ Learning
disabilities
➤ Poor
hearing
➤ Behavioural problems
➤ Poor school
performance
➤ Poor
co-ordination
➤
Impaired growth 2,3
HOW COMMON IS LEAD POISONING?
At least 75,000 Australian pre-school children have elevated
blood lead levels.
Lead can enter the body when someone breathes, eats or drinks
a substance that contains lead. Lead stays toxic and takes a
long time to be removed from the body.
children under aged of four lead poisoning
➤ The developing brain is more sensitive to lead. ➤ Children
absorb more lead, if swallowed, than adults. ➤ Children are
more likely to eat non-food substances. ➤ Children have more
hand to mouth contact.
TREATMENT OF LEAD POISONING
Chelation therapy.
In this treatment, a medication given by mouth binds with the lead
so that it’s excreted in urine. Chelation therapy might be
recommended for children with a blood level of 45 mcg/dL or
greater and adults with high blood levels of lead or symptoms of lead poisoning
ENVENOMATION
Envenomation is the injection of venom from a poisonous animal
into a persons body - usually from a bite or a sting. Envenomation
is systemic poisoning from the bite.
ENVENOMATION from?
‣ Snakes
‣Spiders
‣ Bee’s
‣ Wasps
‣Jellyfish
‣ Ticks
‣ Ants
2 Types of poisoning
- localised poisoning; affecting only the area where the bite or the sting was received
- Systemic poisoning, affecting the whole body
WHAT IS
ANAPHYLAXIS?
‣ Any acute onset illness with typical skin
features (urticarial rash or
erythema/flushing, and/or angioedema), plus involvement of respiratory and/or cardiovascular
and/or persistent severe gastrointestinal symptoms; or
➤ Any acute onset of hypotension or bronchospasm or upper airway obstruction where anaphylaxis is
considered possible, even if typical skin features are not present.
Anaphylaxis – Indicated by any one of the following signs:
➤ Difficult or noisy breathing
➤ Swelling of tongue
➤ Swelling or tightness in throat
➤ Difficulty talking or hoarse voice
➤ Wheeze or persistent cough - unlike the cough in asthma, the onset of coughing during
anaphylaxis is usually sudden
➤ Persistent dizziness or collapse
➤ Pale and floppy (young children)
➤ Abdominal pain, vomiting - for insect stings or injected drug (medication) allergy.
SNAKES
Assessment:
Once the possibility of the snake bite has been raised, you must
determine whether the person has been envenomed to establish the
need for anti venom.
This is done by taking into consideration the circumstances,
symptoms, examination and laboratory results.
Snake bites are uncommon and significant envenomation is rare.
snake bite Circumstances
➤ Confirmed/witnessed bite?
➤ Were the multiple bites?
➤ Identification of the snake?
➤ Fang marks? one or multiple scratches? How may times
SNAKE BITE, SYSTEMIC SYMPTOMS
Headache
Diaphoresis
Nausea or vomiting
Abdominal pain
Diarrhoea
Blurred or double vision
Slurring of speech
Muscle weakness
Respiratory distress
Bleeding from the bite site or elsewhere
Passing dark or red urine
Local pain or swelling at bite site
Muscle pain
Pain in lymph nodes draining the bite area
Loss of consciousness / collapse and/or convulsions
SNAKE BITES
Coagulopathy:
Many snake venoms cause coagulopathy in humans. Where the
blood is unable to clot due to decreased levels of clotting factors.
Abnormal INR, high aPTT, high D-dimer.
