carbon monoxide poisoning
Also known as CO poisoning, carbon monoxide toxicity, CO toxicity, carbon monoxide exposure, CO exposure
toxicity due to exposure to carbon monoxide
Key facts
- Other names
- Carbon monoxide intoxication, carbon monoxide toxicity, carbon monoxide overdose
- Specialty
- Toxicology , emergency medicine
- Symptoms
- Headache , dizziness , weakness, vomiting, chest pain , confusion
- Complications
- Loss of consciousness , arrhythmias , seizures
- Causes
- Breathing in carbon monoxide
- Diagnostic method
- Carboxyhemoglobin level:, 3% (nonsmokers), 10% (smokers)
- Differential diagnosis
- Cyanide toxicity , alcoholic ketoacidosis , aspirin poisoning , upper respiratory tract infection
- Prevention
- Carbon monoxide detectors , venting of gas appliances , maintenance of exhaust systems
- Treatment
- Supportive care , 100% oxygen , hyperbaric oxygen therapy
- Prognosis
- Risk of death: 1–31%
- Frequency
- >20,000 emergency visits for non-fire related cases per year (US)
Article
Carbon monoxide poisoning typically occurs from breathing in carbon monoxide (CO) at excessive levels. Symptoms are often described as "flu-like" and commonly include headache, dizziness, weakness, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. Large exposures can result in loss of consciousness, arrhythmias, seizures, or death. The classically described "cherry red skin" rarely occurs. Long-term complications may include chronic fatigue, trouble with memory, and movement problems. According to the Threshold Limit Value – Time Weighted Average, humans tolerate 25 mL of CO/m for 8 hours/day for 40 hour work week.
CO is a colorless and odorless gas which is initially non-irritating. It is produced during incomplete burning of organic matter. This can occur in cooking equipment, motor vehicles, or heaters which use carbon-based fuels. Carbon monoxide primarily causes adverse effects by combining with hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin (symbol COHb or HbCO), which prevents the blood from carrying oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide as carbaminohemoglobin. Additionally, many other hemoproteins such as myoglobin, Cytochrome P450, and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase are affected, along with other metallic and non-metallic cellular targets.