POISON INTRODUCTION

Corrosive, Asphyxiant, Neurotic, Irritant, Cardiac & Miscellaneous Poisoning

• Corrosive Poisoning:

  • Signs and Symptoms: Severe burns, necrosis, sloughing, and charring of skin and mucous membranes.
  • Fatal Dose: Varies with type of corrosive substance, but generally a few grams can be fatal.
  • Fatal Period: Usually within a few days to a week.
  • Postmortem Findings: Severe burns, necrosis, sloughing, and charring of skin and mucous membranes.
  • Circumstances: Ingestion or contact with corrosive substances, such as acids or alkalis.

• Asphyxiant Poisoning:

  • Signs and Symptoms: Respiratory distress, cyanosis, and eventually death due to lack of oxygen.
  • Fatal Dose: Typically small amounts can be fatal.
  • Fatal Period: Usually within minutes to hours.
  • Postmortem Findings: Respiratory distress, cyanosis, and lack of oxygen in tissues.
  • Circumstances: Inhalation of asphyxiant gases, such as carbon monoxide or hydrogen cyanide.

• Neurotic Poisoning:

  • Signs and Symptoms: Neurological symptoms, such as seizures, coma, and respiratory depression.
  • Fatal Dose: Varies with type of neurotoxin, but generally small amounts can be fatal.
  • Fatal Period: Usually within hours to days.
  • Postmortem Findings: Neurological symptoms, such as seizures, coma, and respiratory depression.
  • Circumstances: Ingestion or exposure to neurotoxins, such as organophosphates or heavy metals.

• Irritant Poisoning:

  • Signs and Symptoms: Skin irritation, redness, and inflammation.
  • Fatal Dose: Generally not fatal unless severe exposure occurs.
  • Fatal Period: Usually not applicable.
  • Postmortem Findings: Skin irritation, redness, and inflammation.
  • Circumstances: Contact with irritant substances, such as acids or alkalis.

• Cardiac Poisoning:

  • Signs and Symptoms: Cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, and death.
  • Fatal Dose: Varies with type of cardiac toxin, but generally small amounts can be fatal.
  • Fatal Period: Usually within hours to days.
  • Postmortem Findings: Cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, and death.
  • Circumstances: Ingestion or exposure to cardiac toxins, such as digitalis or beta blockers.

• Miscellaneous Poisoning:

  • Signs and Symptoms: Varies with type of poison, but often includes nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
  • Fatal Dose: Varies with type of poison, but generally small amounts can be fatal.
  • Fatal Period: Usually within hours to days.
  • Postmortem Findings: Varies with type of poison.
  • Circumstances: Ingestion or exposure to various poisons, such as pesticides or heavy metals.

Medicolegal Aspects in Different Poisoning

• Corrosive Poisoning:
  • Important to identify the substance and determine the extent of damage.
  • Can be fatal, and the fatal period is usually within a few days to a week.
  • Postmortem findings include severe burns, necrosis, sloughing, and charring of skin and mucous membranes.
• Asphyxiant Poisoning:
  • Important to identify the substance and determine the extent of exposure.
  • Can be fatal, and the fatal period is usually within minutes to hours.
  • Postmortem findings include respiratory distress, cyanosis, and lack of oxygen in tissues.
• Neurotic Poisoning:
  • Important to identify the substance and determine the extent of exposure.
  • Can be fatal, and the fatal period is usually within hours to days.
  • Postmortem findings include neurological symptoms, such as seizures, coma, and respiratory depression.
• Irritant Poisoning:
  • Important to identify the substance and determine the extent of exposure.
  • Generally not fatal unless severe exposure occurs.
  • Postmortem findings include skin irritation, redness, and inflammation.
• Cardiac Poisoning:
  • Important to identify the substance and determine the extent of exposure.
  • Can be fatal, and the fatal period is usually within hours to days.
  • Postmortem findings include cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, and death.
• Miscellaneous Poisoning:
  • Important to identify the substance and determine the extent of exposure.
  • Can be fatal, and the fatal period is usually within hours to days.
  • Postmortem findings vary with type of poison.

Differentiation between Arsenic and Lead Poisoning

• Arsenic Poisoning:
  • Signs and Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and eventually death.
  • Fatal Dose: Varies with type of arsenic, but generally small amounts can be fatal.
  • Fatal Period: Usually within hours to days.
  • Postmortem Findings: Meiosis and hyperkeratosis of skin and mucous membranes.
  • Circumstances: Ingestion or exposure to arsenic.
• Lead Poisoning:
  • Signs and Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, constipation, and eventually death.
  • Fatal Dose: Varies with type of lead, but generally small amounts can be fatal.
  • Fatal Period: Usually within hours to days.
  • Postmortem Findings: Lead lines in gums and abdominal organs.
  • Circumstances: Ingestion or exposure to lead.

Differential Diagnosis of Organophosphorus Poisoning

• Signs and Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, seizures, coma, and respiratory depression.
• Important to Consider: Ingestion or exposure to organophosphates or other neurotoxins.
• Differential Diagnosis: Include other neurotoxins, such as heavy metals or pesticides.

Bioterrorism with Bacterial Borne/Microbial Infections/Biological Poisoning

• Definition: The use of microorganisms or toxins to cause harm or death.
• Types: Include anthrax, botulism, and smallpox.
• Signs and Symptoms: Varies with type of microorganism or toxin, but often includes fever, nausea, vomiting, and respiratory distress.
• Fatal Dose: Varies with type of microorganism or toxin, but generally small amounts can be fatal.
• Fatal Period: Usually within hours to days.
• Postmortem Findings: Varies with type of microorganism or toxin.
• Circumstances: Ingestion or exposure to microorganisms or toxins through air, water, or food.