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Clinitest tablets overdose
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Definition: |
This poisoning is from an overdose of Clinitest.
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Poisonous Ingredient: |
- Copper sulfate
- Citric acid
- Sodium hydroxide
- Sodium carbonate
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Where Found: |
Note: This list may not be all inclusive. |
Symptoms: |
- Body as a whole
- Respiratory
- Inability to breathe from throat swelling
- Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- Skin
- Gastrointestinal
- Heart and blood vessels
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Home Treatment: |
Any ingestion or overdose of Clinitest tablets mandates immediate medical evaluation. Dilute the poison by giving water immediately. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING -- it will probably occur on its own. Call Poison Control as soon as possible. |
Before Calling Emergency: |
Determine the following information:
- The patient's age, weight, and condition
- The name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
- The time it was swallowed
- The amount swallowed
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Poison Control, or a local emergency number: |
Any ingestion or overdose of Clinitest tablets mandates immediate medical evaluation. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room. |
What to expect at the emergency room: |
Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:
- For swallowed poison
- Placement of a tube down the nose and into the stomach (a nasogastric tube, or an NG tube) to wash out the stomach
- Endoscopy -- the placement of a camera down the throat to see the extent of burns to the esophagus and the stomach
- Give IV fluids
- Admission to the hospital
- Give an antidote
- Treat the symptoms
- For inhaled poisons
- A breathing tube may need to be inserted
- Oxygen
- Admission to the hospital or to the intensive care unit
- Bronchoscopy (inserting a camera down the throat and into the airway to evaluate the extent of burns to the airway and lungs)
- For skin exposure
- Irrigation (washing of the skin), perhaps every few hours for several days
- Skin debridement (surgical removal of burned skin)
- Admission or transfer to a hospital that specializes in burn care
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Expectations (prognosis): |
The prognosis (probable outcome) depends on how rapidly the alkali was diluted and neutralized. Extensive damage to the mouth, throat, eyes, lungs, esophagus, nose, and stomach are possible. The ultimate outcome depends on the extent of this damage. Damage continues to occur to the esophagus and stomach for several weeks after the alkali was swallowed, and death may occur as long as a month later.
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Review Date: 2/1/2002
Reviewed By: Kevin G. Wheeler, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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