Carbon monoxide poisoning

ABSTRACT

Many people are poisoned by carbon monoxide [CO] with potentially devastating outcomes. CO is the leading cause of fatal poisoning in the industrialized world as well as being endemic in many parts of the developing world. CO poisoning is a serious threat that people need to get informed about. Diagnosis can be difficult because, the early symptoms are quite nonspecific, resemble those of influenza, motion sickness or heat exhaustion, and are often misinterpreted. Those suffering from CO poisoning may initially complain of vague symptoms but the symptoms can rapidly progress to coma and even death, so called silent death. It is therefore critical that CO be eliminated from the body as soon and quickly as possible. Unless patient dies, recovery occurs as CO is removed from the circulation, accelerated by breathing O[2]