Toxic injury
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| Toxic injury | |
|---|---|
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| Section of a lung with silicosis, an occupational toxic injury resulting from exposure to silica dust | |
| Treatment | Removal from exposure source, antitoxin therapy, chelation therapy, or antidote where applicable, treatment of symptoms and resulting illness |
| Prognosis | Varies |
A toxic injury is a type of injury resulting from exposure to a toxin. Toxic injuries can manifest as teratogenic effects, respiratory effects, gastrointestinal effects, cardiovascular effects, hepatic effects, renal effects, neurological effects, or a combination thereof. They can also produce delayed effects, including various forms of cancer and learning disability.[1] Effects can occur after acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term) exposure, depending on the toxicity, dose, and method of exposure.
Every toxic injury or exposure to a toxin has different effects and symptoms. Some toxic effects do not necessarily cause permanent damage and can be reversible. However, some toxins can cause irreversible permanent damage. Depending on the intensity of the poison of the substance it [2] can affect just one particular organ system or they may produce generalized toxicity by affecting a number of systems. A variety of symptoms occur depending on how and where the toxic injuries affect the body. Generally, if the toxins affect the respiratory system the symptoms are coughing, tight chest, difficulty in breathing and nose and throat irritation. Miscarriage or infertility can occur if it occurs in the ovaries or testes. Depression, severe headaches and dizziness are the symptoms for toxins affecting the spinal cord and brain. Visible reactions such as skin rashes, and swelling and eye redness are common. Exposure to asbestos can lead to Mesothelioma[3] which is a cancer that can cause serious damage to the lining of the lungs. The symptoms include shortness of breath, cough, night sweats and fever.