Assessment and diagnosis of the poisoned patient

Abstract 

Assessment of an acutely poisoned patient involves the taking of an appropriate history, assessment of the level of consciousness, ventilation and circulation, a physical examination, and requesting appropriate toxicological and non-toxicological investigations. Diagnosis is based on the history, circumstantial evidence (if available), a cluster of common features (if present) and, occasionally, on the results of biochemical or toxicological analyses.

Keywords: diagnosis, examination, history, local toxicity, systemic toxicity, toxicological analyses