Key Terms

Question 1

Acid

Answer 1

a substance that liberates hydrogen ions (H+) when in solution

Question 2

Activated Charcoal

Answer 2

a powder, usually premixed with water, that will absorb (bind) some poisons and help prevent them from being absorbed by the body.

Question 3

Addiction

Answer 3

compulsive and overwhelming dependence on a drug; an addiction may be physiological dependence, a psychological dependence, or both.

Question 4

Alkali

Answer 4

a substance that liberates hydroxyl ions (OH-) when in solution; a strong base.

Question 5

Antidote

Answer 5

a substance that will neutralize a specific toxin or counteract it effect on the body.

Question 6

Decontamination

Answer 6

the process of minimizing toxicity by reducing the amount of toxin absorbed into the body.

Question 7

Delirium Tremens

Answer 7

disorder found I habitual and excessive users of alcoholic beverages after cessation of drinking for 48-72 hours. Patients experience visual, tactile, and auditory disturbances. Death my result in server cases.

Question 8

Drug Overdose

Answer 8

poisoning from a pharmocological substance in excess of that usually prescribed or that the body can tolerate.

Question 9

Enterotoxin

Answer 9

an exotoxin that produces gastrointestinal symptoms and diseases such as food poisoning.

Question 10

Exotoxin

Answer 10

removing an ingested poison by repeatedly filling and emptying the stomach with water or saline via a gastric tube; also known as “pumping the stomach.”

Question 11

Gastric Lavage

Answer 11

removing an ingested poison by repeatedly filling and emptying the stomach with water or saline via a gastric tube; also known as “pumping the stomach.”

Question 12

Ingestions

Answer 12

entry of a substance into the body through the gastrointestinal tract

Question 13

Inhalation

Answer 13

entry of a substance into the body through the respiratory tract.

Question 14

Injection

Answer 14

entry of a substance into the body through a break in the skin.

Question 15

Organophosphates

Answer 15

phosphorus-containing organic chemicals.

Question 16

Substance Abuse

Answer 16

use of a pharmacological substance for purposes other than medically defined reasons.

Question 17

Surface Absorption

Answer 17

entry of a substance into the body directly through the skin or mucous membrane.

Question 18

Therapeutic Index

Answer 18

the maximum tolerated dose divided by the minimum curative dose of a drug; the range between curative and toxic dosages; also called therapeutic window.

Question 19

Tolerance

Answer 19

the need to progressively increase the dose of a drug to reproduce the effect originally achieved by smaller doses.

Question 20

Toxicology

Answer 20

study of the detection, chemistry, pharmacological actions, and antidotes of toxic substances.

Question 21

Toxidrome

Answer 21

a toxic syndrome; a group of typical signs and symptoms consistently associated with exposure to a particular type of toxin.

Question 22

Toxin

Answer 22

any chemical (drug, poison, or other) that causes adverse effects on an organism that is exposed to it.

Question 23

Whole Bowel Irrigation

Answer 23

administration of polyethylene glycol continuously at 1-2 L/hr through a nasogastric tube until the effluent is clear or objects are recovered.

Question 24

Withdrawal

Answer 24

referring to alcohol or drug withdrawal in which the patient’s body reacts severely when deprived of the abused substance.