Heavy Metals and Metallic Poisoning Flashcards
There are two types of inorganic lead poisoning
Acute
Chronic
Features of Acute lead poisoning
Severe intestinal distress that progresses to marked CNS abnormality
Disorders that stimulate lead poisoning
Appendicitis
Peptic Ulcer
Pancreatitis
What is Plumbism
Range of toxic syndrome due to chronic lead poisoning
What is Erethism
Syndrome resulting from mercury poisoning characterised by insomnia, memory loss, excitability and delirium
Organic lead poisoning is caused by
Tetraethyl lead
Tetramethyl lead
Symptoms of organic lead poisoning
Hallucination
Insomnia
Headache
Irritability
Steps In management of inorganic lead poisoning
Immediate termination of exposure and use of chelation therapy
Severe intoxication of inorganic lead is treated with
IV infusion of calcium disodium edetate 8mg/kg
Dimercaprol 2.5mg/kg for childern
Steps In management of organic lead poisoning
Decontaminating the skin and preventing further exposure
The two major sources of arsenic poisoning
Coal burning power plants
Smelters
The chemical forms of arsenic of toxicology importance
Elemental arsenic
Inorganic arsenic
Organic arsenic
Arsin gas
Medical uses of arsenic
I. Therapeutic agent in the treatment of syphilis
II. Used as a tonic in fowler’s solution…..(fowler’s solution used to treat trypanosomiasis involving CNS)
The average of daily intake of arsenic from environmental sources is
Less than 1mg
The total burden of arsenic in an adult is about
20mg