Medicine
Volume 35, Issue 10 , Pages 540-541, October 2007

Is the cause toxicological?

S H L Thomas MD FRCP FRCPE is Consultant Physician in the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, Reader in Therapeutics at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, and Director of the National Poisons Information Service (Newcastle Unit). He trained in clinical pharmacology and toxicology at St Thomas' Hospital, London and in Newcastle upon Tyne. His research interests are adverse drug reactions and poisoning. Competing interests: none declared

Abstract 

Although the diagnosis of poisoning is usually evident (e.g. in a patient presenting with drug overdose), it may occasionally be obscure. This article describes some clinical presentations where poisoning should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Examples are unexplained coma or confusion, hypoglycaemia, abnormal liver function, unexplained convulsions or acidosis or abnormal bleeding. Poisoning should also be suspected if several people present with similar symptoms or in children who have chronic, recurrent or unexplained symptoms.

Keywords: acidosis, coma, confusion, convulsions, drug overdose, hypoglycaemia, poisoning

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PII: S1357-3039(07)00217-4

doi:10.1016/j.mpmed.2007.07.014

Medicine
Volume 35, Issue 10 , Pages 540-541, October 2007

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