Acute poisoning causes considerable morbidity and mortality. Despite this, it is an often neglected area of training and consequently a cause of much anxiety among medical personnel. Those seeking to acquire a working knowledge in this field are often faced with daunting tomes on toxicology or publications offering little by way of practical guidance and explanation.
This book guides readers through an essential understanding of the more common toxins, be they medications, household or industrial toxins, illicit drugs or venoms. Guidance on the management of toxicity concentrates on the emergency period and offers practical advice that supplements globally accepted life support principles.
Those purchasing this book may well want to complete the two-day, CPD-accredited ‘Emergency Management of Acute Poisoning (EMAP®) Course’ for which this text also serves as course manual.
SECTION I GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS AND THE APPROACH TO MANAGEMENT
1 General considerations
2 Toxic syndromes
SECTION II POISONING BY MEDICATION AND HOUSEHOLD, AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL SUBSTANCES
3 Poisoning by analgesics and antipyretics
4 Poisoning by central nervous system depressants
5 Poisoning by antidepressants
6 The anticholinergic syndrome
7 Drugs acting on the autonomic nervous system
8 Cardiovascular drugs
9 Central nervous system stimulants
10 Haematinics
11 Metallic poisons
12 Hydrocarbons
13 Alcohols and glycols
14 Smoke inhalation
15 Carbon monoxide
16 Cyanide
17 Hydrogen sulphide
18 Insecticides
19 Herbicides
20 Corrosive ingestions
21 Approach to hazardous material (HAZMAT) incidents
22 Acute food poisoning
23 Poisonous plants and mushrooms
SECTION III ACUTE POISONING WITH ILLICIT, ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES
24 Alcohol
25 Cocaine
26 Hallucinogens
27 Amphetamines and derivatives
28 Illicit opioids
29 Suicide and depression – the ethical dilemmas
SECTION IV ENVENOMATION IN SOUTHERN AFRICA
30 Snake bite in southern Africa
31 Spider bite in southern Africa
32 Scorpion sting in southern Africa
33 Bee sting and anaphylaxis
34 Marine envenomation
APPENDICES
Appendix A Alphabetical listing and dosages of therapeutic agents appearing in this book
Appendix B Preparing to receive the poisoned patient
Appendix C Mnemonics and other “memory joggers” appearing in this book
Appendix D Useful telephone numbers, addresses, e-mail and websites
Appendix E Conversion of drug levels from conventional to SI units in plasma or serum
Appendix F Normal levels of therapeutic agents in plasma and serum
Appendix G Toxic levels of therapeutic agents in plasma and serum
Appendix H Gastric and intestinal decontamination skills
Appendix I Elimination after absorption – peritoneal dialysis
