Slide 2:
Definition:
This is poisoning from swallowing
or breathing in (inhaling) kerosene. Alternative Names:
Lamp oil poisoning; Coal oil poisoning Poisonous Ingredient:
Hydrocarbons, substances that contain only hydrogen and carbon.
(Examples are benzene and methane.)
Where Found:
Kerosene (a fuel used for heating and cooking)
Some lamp fuels
Slide 3:
Symptoms
Airways and lungs
Breathing difficulty (from inhalation)
Throat swelling (may also cause breathing difficulty)
Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
Pain
Loss of vision
Slide 4:
Gastrointestinal
Abdominal pain
Vomiting
Burns of the esophagus (food pipe)
Vomiting blood
Blood in the stool
Slide 5:
Heart and blood
Hypotension (low blood pressure) develops rapidly
Collapse
Skin
Irritation
Burns
Slide 6:
Determine the following information:
The patient's age, weight, and condition
The name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
The time it was swallowed
The amount swallowed
Slide 7:
What to expect at the emergency room
The health care provider will measure and monitor the patient's
vital signs, including temperature,
pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. The patient
may receive:Fluids by IV
Medicines to treat symptoms
A nasogastric (NG) tube thru the nose into the stomach to
empty the stomach(gastric lavage)
Endoscopy -- camera down the throat to see burns
in the esophagusand the stomach
Oxygen
Breathing tube
Bronchoscopy -- camera down the throat to see burns in the
airways and lungs
Irrigation (washing of the skin) -- perhaps every few hours
for several days
Slide 8:
Expectations (prognosis)
How well a patient does depends on the amount of poison swallowed
and how quickly treatment was received
. The faster a patient gets medical help, the better
the chance for recovery.
Swallowing kerosene may cause damage to the linings of the
mouth, throat,
esophagus (food pipe), stomach, and intestines. If kerosene gets into the lungs
(aspiration), serious
and, possibly, permanent lung damage can occur.
Damage can continue to occur for several weeks after the poison was
swallowed. Death may occur as long as a month afterwards