Management of poisoning: A handbook for health care workers

The early and appropriate treatment of acute poisoning can be crucial in saving life and in reducing adverse effects. In many places - particularly in rural areas of developing countries - access to health facilities is difficult and immediate treatment may have to be provided by community health workers or others with little or no medical training. This handbook provided guidance for such a people on how to care for people who have taken poison, and how to work with communities to prevent poisoning incidents. The book is two parts. The fist part gives general information on how poisoning happens and how it can be prevented. It also provides guidance on how to deal with emergencies, including giving first aid, finding out exactly what happened, and caring for poisoned patients until they can be seen by a doctor. The second part gives information on the specific signs and symptoms of poisoning with various pesticides, medicines, household chemical products, and certain plants and animals, and describes the steps that should be taken in each case. Some information is included for health workers with a knowledge of clinical medicine and diagnostic procedures, working in health centres with limited resources. The book is intended mainly for use as a practical reference source in an emergency, but will also be useful as a teaching aid for health workers at all levels.