MBBS DMJ DR PERVAIZ ZARIF TOXICOLOGY I

MBBS DMJ DR PERVAIZ ZARIF

TOXICOLOGY (I) Clinical Toxicology (II) Forensic Toxicology In our part of world - Certain poisons (easy detection) in west - Pharmaceutical products. (difficult)

TOXICOLOGY Toxicology is the science which deals with the poisons in reference to their source, properties, mod of action symptoms which they produce, Lethal dose nature of fatal results, treatment, method of their detection , estimation and autopsy findings.

FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY deals with the medical and legal aspects of harmful effects of poisonous substances on the human body see 337 - J (Qisas and Diyat) It is also concerned with their sale & purchase Poison It is a substance which when administered , inhaled or ingested is capable of acting deleteriously on the human body. Almost anything is poison. No boundary between drug and poison. IN LAW INTENT IS THE DIFFERENCE

TOXINOLOGY It is the science which deals with the toxins, products of plants, animal and bacteria fungi which are harmful to human body.

HUMAN POISONING SUICIDAL POISIONS KCN, HCN, opium, barbiturates, organ phosphorus poising, oleander etc. AN IDEAL SUICIDAL POISON must be cheep Easy to purchase (available) Capable of being administered in any food/drink) Pleasant taste, no repulsive smell. Lethal dose should be small, Lethal period-short Painless

HOMICIDAL POISON Arsenic, mercury, antimony, aconite, thallium, maddar, strychnine , powdered glass, insulin etc. AN IDEAL HOMICIDAL POISON Cheap Easily Available, Colorless, odorless, and tasteless, Must be capable of administered in food/drink.

Symptoms should resemble some disease. Lethal dose should be small Fatal period -Long Should have no antidote for it. Should not be delectable at autopsy.

STUPEFYING Poison Alcohol , Dathura, Cannabis Indicia cigarette containing organic material , certain drugs like BDP, Narcotics.

ACCIDENTAL POISONING Takes place as a result of carelessness. Quack remedies Bites by poisonous animals Food poisoning

CLASSIFICATION OF POISONS 1 - ACCORDING TO MODE OF ACTION (6 GROUPS) 1 - CORROSIVES (Strong acids & Alkalis) 2 - IRRITANTS. (a) Inorganic (i) non metallic(Phrs. Cl , Br , I ) (ii) Metallic (Arsenic , mercury, Lead copper. etc. ) (b) Organic (i) vegetable(castor oil croton oil Abrus ) (ii) Animal (Cantharides, Snakes , Scorpios, Spiders etc. (c) Mechanical (powdered glass, Chopped hair , Dried sponge, Diamond dust 3 - NEUROTICS (all alkaloid poisons) a- Cerebral (Somniferous( opiodes ) , Inebriants (Alcohol , anesthetics , sedatives , Hypnotics , Agro Chemicals) Delirent ( Dhatura , Belladonna hyocymus Cannabis indica )

b- Spinal (Nuxvomica gelsemium) c- Peripheral (Curare conium) 4 - CARDIAC (Digitalis , oleander , aconite) 5 - ASPHYXIANTS (CO, CO 2, Sewer gas, War gases. 6 - MISC. (Different pharmacological products (Analgesics, antipyretics, antihistamines , antidepressent etc.

ROUTES OF ADMINSTRATION (i) Entral ( oral, perrectum) (ii) Parentral (a) Injection (I. D, I. M, I/V, S/C. ) (iii) Inhalation (iv) External Application. (v) Natural orifices.

ACTION OF POISONS. (1) LOCAL (direct action) Corrosive and irritants (2) LOCAL & REMOTE (carbolic acid) (3) REMOTE (systemic due to absorption (a) specific (b) non specific) (4) GENERAL more then one system is involved and beyond limits like arsenic and mercury

FACTORS MODIFYING THE ACTION OF POISON 1 - Dose Small dose (Therapeutic results. ) Large dose (Toxic result. ) GENERAL EXCEPTIONS. LIKE (a) Idiosyncrasy (inherited intolerance) (b) Allergic reaction, (Hypersensitivity). (c) Habit (tolerance like Alcohol) (d) Synergism (e) Elimination from body. (cumulative poisons)

2 - FORM OF POISON A- PHYSICAL STATE (gas, Liquid and solid) coated pills take more time. B- CHEMICAL COMBINATION ( inert like strychnine with tannic acid , led carbonate + copper arsenate ) C- MECHANICAL COMBINATION (Acid diluted with water) 3 - METHOD OF ADMINSTRATION. (A)- INHALED (rapid) (B) Intravenous, (I/V, S/C, I/M) 4 - CONDITION OF THE BODY 1. Age 2. State of health 3. sleep & intoxication

DIAGNOSIS OF A CASE OF POISONING (1) IN LIVING ACUTE POISONING - symptoms suddenly appear - Person is in good health previously -symptoms do not conform to an ordinary illness - Other persons who have taken same item effect in same manner. -Symptom rapidly increase in severity. -Followed by death or recovery -Poison can be detected ingredients of food medicine, fluid, vomit, gastric lavage Blood, urine and stools.

CHRONIC POISONING Symptoms develop insidiously and gradually - There is exacerbation of symptoms after intake of suspected food, medicine or fluid. - There is remission or complete disappearance of symptoms after removal of patient from the source. poison can be detected in routine samples and things being used by the patient main symptoms being malaise generalized weakness, deterioration of health , repeated attacks of undiagnosed G. I irrigation. Usually Homicidal intent

POISIONING IN DEAD Evidence of poisoning depends on Postmortem examination Chemical analysis Experiments on suitable animals Moral and circumstantial evidence NOTE: poison retard puturifactions

P. M. EXAMINATION Same procedure Smell from clothes, body Froth from nose and mouth Stains on lips chin etc, Colour of skin and postmortem lividity Marks of injections Condition of natural orifices G. I system should be especially watched for hyperemia, softening, ulceration, perforation

CHEMICAL ANALYSIS: Detection of poison in paranchyma of organs (proof) Finding of poison is food, drinks is taken as corroborative. EXPERIMENTS ON ANIMALS: Dathura cat, s eyes MORAL & CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE Clues regarding recent purchases Behavior of the victim/ suspected Any suicidal note H/O fight, financial problems/love affairs Disposal of dead body in haste.

DUTIES OF A DOCTOR IN CASE OF POISONING Must record preliminary particulars as name, age, sex, occupation, address, date and time, brought by whom, history, dying declaration. Doctors duty is to treat the patient. If in private practice- no need to report but if summoned by police/ count must divulge the case If poisoning is accidental (hotel/ water tank) must notify it If doctor is convinced about homicide must inform police If in is Govt. setup must inform police about all the cases coming to hospital Record keeping should be meticulous. Must collect the samples like stomach wash. Vomiting, urine, blood for analysis.

Any suspicious article like utensils, bottles & containers, food or drink near the person. Clothes and bed sheets of victim. If soiled by vomitus etc. If the patient is serious arrangement for dying declaration IF THE PATIENT DIES THEN Must issue death certificate after informing the police and Any opinion about nature of poison should be given after the report from chemical examiner If doctor is performing autopsy viscera should be preserved and sent for C/E

TREATMENT OF POISONING: If poison is known then treat specific poison if not known on general lines of management Main aim to stay the patient alive by supporting respiration and circulation Assisted by getting rid of poison by metabolism, excretion Use of antidote by getting rid of poison

OBJECTIVES: Removal of unabsorbed poison Use of antidote Elimination of unabsorbed poison Treatment of general symptoms Maintenance of patient's general condition

REMOVAL OF UNABSORBED POISON: Depending upon route of entry a. INHALEED POISON: (CO, H 2, S) Remove from sources to fresh air Artificial respiration Keep airway patent (posture drainage) b. INJECTED POISON: (hypnotics, insulin, sedatives) A tight tourniquet proximal to point of injection Must be relaxed for one min after 10 min Wound may be excised and poison removed

c. CONTACT POISON: Spilled or sprayed on skin, eyes or wound Best way is to wash it out with water Neutralize it by an antidote.

d. INGESTED POISIONS Remove from stomach as much as possible by Vomiting, and stomach wash. If patient is conscious and cooperative and vomiting is not contra indicated. ( Strychnine , corrosive, petroleum, distillates, coma) ( cardio-resp. diseases, Advanced pregnancy. Induce it by tickling the fauces and by use of Emetics.

HOUSE HOLD EMETICS Warm water. Mustard powder ( Tea spoon = 15 gm) Two table spoons of Na. Cl + 200 ml tepid water) IPECAC 1 - 2 gms or its syp 30 ml. ( may repeat Once) Apo morphine 6 mg s/c followed by nalaxone Hcl 5 -10 mg i. m/i. v causes vomiting in 3 -5 min. Facilitate gastric lavage by removing contents Produce gastric/intestine reflux (Tab)

GASTRIC LAVAGE If not contra indicated-may be life saving but should be undertaken within 6 hours. Contraindicated in corrosives ( exception in carbolic acid. Certain measures should be taken such as Strychnine poisoning ( control fits ) Kerosene poisoning ( airway should be sealed ) Hypothermia ( Body temp should be maintained.

PROCEDURE in prone or semi prone position Head should be down. Flexible rubber tube about 12. 7 mm diameter And 1½ met. in length. Lips to cardiac end 45 cm. Air should be injected (sound heard) ¼ litters of water (35 C ) First – funnel is up them down. Subsequent washings e ½ liters of water 1 st washing is preserved. Appropriate antidote should be used. Color of fluid is noted till it return uncharged. Last fluid should be kept in stomach.

SOLUTION USED Mg 2 So 4 or Na 2 So 4 ( purging) Na. HCO 3 ( Aspirin poisoning ) Activated charcoal (adsorbs Alkaloids) Liquid paraffin (demulcent) KMn. O 4 – (oxidizing agent) IN CHILDREN 8 – 12 fr 25 CM Stomach wash with 50 ml glass syringe

ANTIDOTS DEF: Remedies which counteract or neutralize the effects of poisons without causing appreciable harm to body. IT IS USED WHEN a-A poison may not have been completely removed b- The poison is already absorbed. The poison has been administrated by routes other than ingestions.

CLASSIFICATION Mechanical or physical. Chemical. Physiological or Pharmacological Universal.

MECHANICAL OR PHYSICAL Impede the absorption of poison such as demulcents, bulky food and activated charcoal Demulcents: fat, oil, milk, egg albumin (used in corrosive, irritants) fatty substance should not be used in fat soluble poisons (phosphorus, organo phosphorus) Bulky food; banana, for glass Activated charcoal (alkaloidal poison, strychnine) Dose is 30 -60 gm in children 60 -100 gm in adults 5 -10 % the amount of poison ingested

CHEMICAL By direct chemical reaction By oxidizing-to non toxic compound as a. Dilute acetic acid _ alkalis b. Dilute alkalis as milk of magnesia _ acids (bicarbonates are not used _ rupture of stomach) c. tannin (strong tea)_ alkalis, glycosides, metals d. KMn. O 4 oxdieses (barbiturates, phosphorus, cyanide), (1: 1000)-dilution, (100 -150 ml left in stomach)

PHYSIOLOGICAL OR PHARMACOLOGICAL Produce effects which are opposite to that effects of the poison as a. Atropine for pilocarpine Diazepam for strychnine Naloxone for morphine Atropine and oximes for organophosphorus N-acctylcystine for paracetamol Mazicon for Benzodiazpines (however antagonism is always not complete and undesirable side effects may be there)

CHELATING AGENT Firm non ionized cyclic complex BAL (British antilewsite), (dimercaprol) 3 mg/kg 4 Hr contra indicated in liver damage For next two days 6 mg 3 days EDTA(Ethylene Diamine Tetra acetate) arsenic 1 gmx. BDx 5 days S/IV uniform(Renal damage-contra indicated) VERSENATE (Arsenic) Pancillamine (Hg, lead, copper, ) orally, 30 mg/kg-(2 gm) Desfuroxamine (iron) UNIVERSAL ANTIDOTE Powdered charcoal-2 parts- alkaloids Milk of magnesia -1 part - acids Tannic acid-1 part- alkaloid, glucoside metal Dose: (one table spoon full in water 200 ml)

ELIMINATION OF ABSORBED POISON Excretion through urine (excessive water in take, alkalinizations of urine) Petroleum distillates Haemodialysis Exchange transfusion Rx OF GENERAL SYMPTOMS Apply it when indicated Morphine for pain, O 2 for resp. support Cardiac stimulants for failing heart Saline infusion for dehydration Administration of glucose ---> liver demage Electrolytes imbalance by K-Na etc

MAINTAINENCE OF Pt. GENERAL CONDITION Warm and comfortable Avoid risk of infection Administration of antibiotics Psychiatric counseling