Knowra Poisoning Poisoning Poisoning is illness or injury caused when a person or organism absorbs, inhales, injects, or ingests a harmful substance. Its effects depend on the substance, dose, route, and duration of exposure.
Toxicology : The study of harmful effects caused by chemical, biological, and physical agents on living organisms. It explains how exposure becomes injury and provides the framework for assessing toxic effects.
Poison control center : A specialized service that provides expert advice about poison exposures and their management. These centers help assess exposure details and guide urgent decisions about care.
Carbon monoxide poisoning : Illness caused by inhaling carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless gas that impairs oxygen delivery and use. It shows how an inhaled poison can cause severe injury without irritating the airways.
Overdose : Exposure to a drug or substance in an amount greater than intended or medically appropriate. An overdose may cause poisoning, but the terms describe amount and resulting harm differently.
Dose–response relationship : The relationship between the amount of an exposure and the magnitude or likelihood of its effects. Poisoning risk often changes with the amount absorbed, though some substances have distinctive thresholds.
Poisoning diagnosis : The clinical process of identifying poisoning from exposure history, symptoms, examination, and tests. Many poisons produce nonspecific symptoms, so diagnosis depends on combining multiple clues.
Lead poisoning : Illness caused by accumulating lead exposure, which can damage the nervous system and other organs. Repeated low-level exposure can cause lasting harm, especially during childhood development.
Intoxication : A temporary state of impaired physical or mental function caused by a psychoactive substance. Intoxication describes a clinical state, while poisoning emphasizes harmful exposure and injury.
Routes of exposure : The pathways by which a substance reaches the body, including ingestion, inhalation, skin contact, and injection. The route influences how quickly a poison is absorbed and which tissues it reaches.
Toxicology screening : Laboratory testing that detects selected drugs or toxic substances in biological samples. Test results can support an assessment, but a negative screen cannot exclude every poison.
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