The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning depend on the volume concentration of carbon monoxide in the air. Chad is absorbed through the respiratory tract, excreted in the same way, unchanged. Symptoms of chronic poisoning are: memory impairment, mental impairment, loss of appetite, loss of sensation in the fingers and others. The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning depend on the volume concentration of CO in the air and the concentration of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood.
Symptoms of poisoningare not specific. Their severity depends not only on the carbon monoxide value of hemoglobin in the blood, but above all on the concentration of carbon monoxide in the inhaled air, the duration of exposure and the physical activity of the injured person.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning depending on the volume concentration of CO in the air:
| volumetric concentration
CO in the air | symptoms of poisoning |
|---|---|
| 100-200 ppm (0.01% - 0.02%) | slight headache when exposed for 2-3 hours |
| 400 ppm (0.04%) | severe headache that begins approximately 1 hour after inhaling this concentration; |
| 800 ppm (0.08%) | dizziness, vomiting and convulsions after 45 minutes of inhalation; after two hours she was in a coma; |
| 1,600 ppm (0.16%) | severe headache, vomiting, convulsions after 20 minutes; death after two hours |
| 3 200 ppm (0.32%) | intense headache and vomiting after 5-10 minutes; death after 30 minutes; |
| 6 400 ppm (0.64%) | headache and vomiting after 1-2 minutes; death in less than 20 minutes; |
| 12 800 ppm (1.28%) | loss of consciousness after 2-3 breaths; death after 3 minutes. |
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning according to the concentration of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood:
| % blood carboxyhemoglobin | symptoms of poisoning |
|---|---|
| <4 | no symptoms |
| 4-8 | lower concentration, making minor mistakes in tests |
| 8-10 | making important mistakes in tests |
| 10-20 | feeling of pressure and slight headache, dilation of the skin vessels |
| 20-30 | headache, ripple intemples |
| 30-40 | severe headache, weakness, dizziness, nausea, possible collapse |
| 40-50 | severe headache, weakness, lightheadedness, nausea, cardiac dysfunction, increased heart rate, collapse |
| 50-60 | heart abnormalities, increased heart rate, coma interrupted by convulsions |
| 60-70 | Coma intermittent with convulsions, impaired heart function and respiration, possible death |
| 70-80 | low heart rate, breathing slows down until electrocution, death |
The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can be:
- memory impairment
- shortness of breath
- mental disability
- visual acuity reduction
- loss of appetite
- headache
- loss of feeling in fingers
- daytime sleepiness
- insomnia at night
- circulatory disorders
- palpitations
- changes in blood count
- parkinsonism symptoms: muscle tremors, masked facial expression
- "penguin gait" - carefully move with your legs wide apart
- grayish color of the skin or
- pink, carmine color of the skin
Depending on the degree of carbon monoxide poisoning, symptoms such as agitation, vomiting, loss of orientation, progressive disturbance of consciousness, breathing disorders, involuntary eye movements, the so-called "floating" eyeballs, pupil unevenness, acceleration and disturbance of the heart rhythm, lowering body temperature, convulsions, coma, sometimes skin changes.
In the case ofsevere cases of poisoning may occur : brainstem damage in the form of body stiffness, ataxia, tremors, impaired facial expressions, speech disorders, damage to the heart muscle, liver, kidneys, thrombotic inflammation of the blood vessels.
Worth knowing2.3k people in hospitals and 50 fatalities. All because of carbon monoxide
Ok. 2.3 thousand people were hospitalized, and more than 50 people died from carbon monoxide poisoning. This is the result of the data for the last heating seasons. These are still better statistics than in previous years. In the winter of 2010/2011, there were over 5.5 thousand. people injured and over 100 deaths from carbon monoxide.
Source:
1. Nieścior M., Jackowska T., Carbon monoxide poisoning, "Postępy Nauk Medycznych" 2013, vol. XXVI, no. 7
2. Sowa M., Winnicki A., Wójcik K., Tarkowski M., Gnatowski T., Carbon monoxide poisoning - routes of exposure, clinical picture, treatment methods, Journal of Education, He alth andSport. 2015;