WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Dr. Bhartendra Sharma*

ABSTRACT

Cases of poisoning may be treated in many places, e.g. at the scene of the accident, during transport, in a hospital. The type of care that can be given will depend on whoever makes the initial contact with the patient and in what circumstances. Certain members of the community, such as firemen, policemen, and teachers, may frequently be the first to be faced with poisoning cases. In rural areas, nurses and primary health care workers, and even agronomists and veterinarians, may have to deal with poisoned persons. They all need at least some basic training in first aid as well as in decontamination and measures for their own protection. The treatment of poisoning by ingestion is as complex as is the enumeration of poisoning agents. There are, however, many practical and general principles that may be applied to any case in which a poison has been taken by mouth. The essence of treatment of any type of ingested poison is the often life saving procedure of emptying the stomach as quickly as possible. Unless the patient is comatose or in cases of poisoning due to petroleum distillates and corrosive agents, gastric lavage should be carried out in every instance. Where emesis is impossible, chemical antidotes may be administered in the lavage fluid. While specific treatment and supportive measures are of great importance, prevention through education is the basic means of avoiding these tragedies.