Poisons & Teratogens

Question 1

What are three therapeutic approaches to reduce absorption of poisons? Which is best and what’s the dosage for it?

Answer 1

• induced emesis with Ipecac
• gastric lavage
• activated charcoal

Activated charcoal is best. 1g/kg

Question 2

What is the emetic agent in Ipecac?

Answer 2

Cephaeline

Question 3

Why is inducing emesis with ipecac no longer recommended?

Answer 3

Aspiration risk

Question 4

What substances will charcoal not absorb?

Answer 4

Iron, cyanide, strong acids and bases, alcohols, hydrocarbons

Question 5

When is alkaline diuresis useful?

Answer 5

Barbiturate and salicylate ingestions

Question 6

Antidote for acetaminophen.

Answer 6

N-acetylcysteine

Question 7

Antidote for carbon monoxide.

Answer 7

O2, hyperbaric O2

Question 8

Antidote for cyanide

Answer 8

Nitrites

Question 9

Antidote for digoxin

Answer 9

Digoxin-specific Fab fragments

Question 10

Antidote for narcotics

Answer 10

Naloxone

Question 11

Antidote for organophosphates

Answer 11

Atropine, pralidoxime/2-PAM

Question 12

What is a teratogen?

Answer 12

Agent that induces structural malformations, metabolic or physiological dysfunction, psychological or behavioral alterations or deficits in offspring, either at birth or postnatal.

Question 13

Name some teratogens.

Answer 13

Thalidomide, anti-cancer drugs, androgens, corticosteroids, warfarin, isotretinoin, aspirin, indomethacin, tetracycline, lithium, valproate sodium

Question 14

Any agent capable of producing deleterious response in biological system.

Answer 14

Poison

Question 15

Substance injected by one species into another

Answer 15

Venom

Question 16

Substance produced by microorganisms that has deleterious effect.

Answer 16

Toxin

Question 17

What are the 3 categories of toxins.

Answer 17

• small molecules
• proteins and polypeptides
• bacterial toxins

Question 18

Acute toxicity

Answer 18

Single or sudden intake - less than 24 hrs

Question 19

Subchronic toxicity

Answer 19

Repeated exposure, weeks - months

Question 20

Chronic toxicity

Answer 20

Repeated exposure more than 3 months

Question 21

Direct toxic effects vs. indirect toxic effects

Answer 21

Direct - due to effect of substance itself

Indirect - consequence of direct effects

Question 22

Used to prevent fungal growth on seeds

Answer 22

Organomercurials

Question 23

Pesticides

Answer 23

Organophosphates and organochlorines

Question 24

Plant desiccant

Answer 24

Bipyridyls (paraguat)

Question 25

Promote uncontrolled plant growth

Answer 25

Agent orange (dioxin)

Question 26

Arsenic

Answer 26

Muscle weakness, loss of sensation, anemia, dermatitis

Question 27

Beryllium

Answer 27

acute pneumonitis, granulomatous lung disease

Question 28

Cadmium

Answer 28

nephrotoxicity

Question 29

What are three air pollutants and what do they do?

Answer 29

CO - binds Hg

sulfur dioxide -bronchoconsriction

nitrogen dioxide - pulmonary edema

Question 30

Methanol

Answer 30

Retinal damage, metabolic acidosis

Question 31

Lead

Answer 31

encephalopathy

Question 32

Mercury

Answer 32

acrodynia - erythema of palms and soles