1/7. Diarrhoea following contamination of drinking water with copper.Three cases of children with suspected copper intoxication from the drinking water are described.The children presented with protracted diarrhoea, which promptly disappeared, when they were given drinking water of low copper concentration but reappeared when given their domestic water. It is concluded that the use of copper tubing in the water pipes may under certain circumstances result in the presence of copper in the drinking water and the risk of intoxication, especially in small children.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/7. colchicine poisoning by accidental ingestion of meadow saffron (colchicum autumnale): pathological and medicolegal aspects.Although intoxications with colchicine, the alkaloid of colchicum autumnale (meadow saffron), are well known, in most cases the intoxications are evoked by oral or parenteral preparations traditionally used as medication against gout. The accidental ingestion of colchicum autumnale, on the other hand, is a rare event and has to our knowledge only twice been described in detail. We report a further case in which two persons confused this highly poisonous plant with wild garlic (allium ursinum), a popular spice in the Central European cuisine. While one person merely complained about a 3-day episode of nausea, vomiting and watery diarrhea, the second person died of multi-organ system derangements 48 h after the ingestion of the colchicum leaves. At autopsy hemorrhagic lung oedema, hypocellular bonemarrow, centrilobular fatty necrosis of the liver and necrosis of the proximal convoluted tubuli of the kidneys were observed. A colchicine concentration of 7.5 micrograms/ml was found in the bile whereas no substance was detected in the postmortem blood.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/7. Acute renal failure associated with an accidental overdose of colchicine.CASE SUMMARY: A 47-year-old man with a history of polyarticular gout was admitted to the nephrology service because of severe renal insufficiency (creatinine 6.25 mg/dl). Three days before admission he had a pain crisis in his knees and ankles and self-administered 20 x 1 mg granules of colchicine p.o. over a period of 4 - 5 hours together with six suppositories each containing 100 mg of indomethacin. The patient began vomiting within 24 hours, experienced diarrhea which persisted for three days and then came to the hospital. The patient reported oliguria during the preceding 24 hours. In hospital, attempts to correct water and electrolyte balance were initiated. The patient became stabilized hemo-dynamically, the diarrhea disappeared within 24 hours, diuresis resumed and the renal function progressively improved. leukopenia and thrombopenia were diagnosed, the transaminases increased: AST = 79 U/l, ALT = 132 U/l on the eighth day after taking the colchicine. The serology for hepatitis a, B, C and hiv viruses was negative; the serology for CMV and VEB revealed a previous infection. After being discharged from hospital 11 days after admission, the patient presented with the following parameters: hematocrit 39%, leukocytes 5,920/microl (3 470 neutrophils), prothrombin time 13 seconds, urea 44 mg/dl, creatinine 1.29 mg/dl, AST 16 U/l and ALT 35 U/l. DISCUSSION: The patient mistakenly ingested 20 mg ofcolchicine p.o. (0.22 mg/kg). The intoxication was associated with gastroenterocolitis, dehydration and renal failure during the first three days after ingestion. The patient also developed leukopenia, thrombopenia and mild hepatocellular injury. Renal failure due to colchicine intoxication is due to various factors such as depletion of volume/hypotension, rhabdomyolysis and multiorgan failure. In this case, the hypovolemia was probably the fundamental cause of the acute renal insufficiency as demonstrated by the quick recovery after administering fluids. It is possible that indomethacin may have enhanced the toxic effect of colchicine on the kidneys and bone marrow. Some colchicine intoxications, as in this case, are caused by an error in interpreting the dose for treating an acute attack of gout. A way to prevent these errors would be to use a low-dose treatment protocol.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.5keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/7. Cholestyramine improves tropical-related diarrhea.patients exposed to the toxic dinoflagellate Pfiesteria develop an illness characterized by secretory diarrhea, conjunctival irritation, skin lesions, and varying degrees of neurologic manifestations. The anion-exchange resin, cholestyramine has been reported in one small case series to be an effective treatment of severe diarrhea associated with Pfiesteria intoxication. A 54-year-old man traveled to the dominican republic where he went swimming in what he describes as "dirty ocean water". Within an hour, he noted a generalized burning and itching of his skin. Later on, he noted pruritic vesicular skin lesions, intense frontal headache, and conjunctivitis. A few days later, he complained of abdominal cramping, nausea, and hourly episodes of watery, non-bloody diarrhea. Due to the constellation of symptoms, Pfiesteria intoxication was suspected. On arrival in the united states, he sought medical care for continued symptoms. physical examination was remarkable for conjunctival injection, linear vesicular lesions (5 cm in length) over his right ankle and left orbit as well as erythema over foreskin of his penis. Mental status and memory were normal. Laboratory studies revealed an elevated serum creatinine, which eventually normalized, and stool studies were negative for leukocytes, blood, and enteric pathogens. Intense diarrhea persisted until he was started on cholestyramine (4 g PO tid). The diarrhea resolved within 2 hours of starting treatment. The headache was initially treated with narcotic agents but only resolved with IV diphenhydramine (25 mg q 4 h). Cholestyramine and diphenhydramine appear to be effective therapeutic agents for tropical-related diarrhea and headache, respectively.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/7. Acute hemorrhagic diarrhea and cardiovascular collapse in a young child owing to environmentally acquired cocaine.Acute crack cocaine intoxication has become a significant problem in both adolescent and adult patients. Recently, cases of cocaine toxicity in infants and toddlers have been described. We report a four-year-old child with acute hemorrhagic diarrhea and shock after intoxication by crack cocaine. Acute cocaine intoxication should be considered in the differential for hemorrhagic diarrhea and shock. The gastrointestinal decontamination following cocaine ingestion is discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.5keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/7. iron poisoning.iron poisoning continues to be a major toxicologic problem, with major impact on the gastrointestinal and circulatory systems. Failure to recognize the severity of iron intoxication may result in an inappropriate level of intervention. By using estimates of the total body burden of iron, clinical symptoms, and the serum iron concentration, an appropriate decision can be made to initiate aggressive chelation therapy with deferoxamine. In severe intoxication, the use of intravenous deferoxamine is indicated, along with supportive care, with particular attention to maintaining the intravascular volume. Other important measures include correction of acidosis and disorders of coagulation and replacement of blood components when there is evidence of gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Under rare circumstances in which large numbers of iron tablets are present in the gastrointestinal tract, surgical removal may be indicated. In addition, measures such as hemodialysis and exchange transfusion should be reserved for those unusual poisonings in which more conservative therapy is unsuccessful. In rare cases of iron intoxication, late sequelae such as hepatic necrosis and gastrointestinal scarring with obstruction may occur. The prompt recognition and initiation of management of children with acute iron poisoning is the single most critical element in decreasing the morbidity and mortality associated with these products.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.5keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/7. Traditional remedies and lead intoxication.Three Saudi children suffered from lead intoxication as a result of ingestion of a preparation prescribed by a traditional practitioner. Two of them showed no symptoms of lead intoxication while the third child gave a history of symptomatic intoxication in the form of convulsions. The blood lead levels were increased in all patients and radiographic lead bands were seen in the long bones of the three children. The blood lead concentration was decreased by Na-Ca-EDTA and BAL treatment in the three patients.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3.5keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |