* Initial management for all<unk> ings includes ensuring adequate cardiopulmonary function and providing treatment for any symptoms such as seizures, shock, and pain. * Injected<unk> s (e.g., from the sting of animals) can be treated by binding the affected body part with a pressure bandage and placing the affected body part in hot water (with a temperature of 50 °C). The pressure bandage prevents the<unk>  being pumped throughout the body, and the hot water breaks it down. This treatment, however, only works with<unk> s composed of protein-molecules. * In the majority of<unk> ings the mainstay of management is providing supportive care for the patient, i.e., treating the symptoms rather than the<unk> . Decontamination * Treatment of a recently ingested<unk>  may involve gastric decontamination to decrease absorption. Gastric decontamination can involve activated charcoal, gastric lavage, whole bowel irrigation, or nasogastric aspiration. Routine use of emetics (syrup of Ipecac), cathartics or laxatives are no longer recommended. * Activated charcoal is the treatment of choice to prevent<unk>  absorption. It is usually administered when the patient is in the emergency room or by a trained emergency healthcare provider such as a Paramedic or EMT. However, charcoal is ineffective against metals such as sodium, potassium, and lithium, and alcohols and glycols; it is also not recommended for ingestion of corrosive chemicals such as acids and alkalis. * Cathartics were postulated to decrease absorption by increasing the expulsion of the<unk>  from the gastrointestinal tract. There are two types of cathartics used in<unk> ed patients; saline cathartics (sodium sulfate, magnesium citrate, magnesium sulfate) and saccharide cathartics (sorbitol). They do not appear to improve patient outcome and are no longer recommended. * Emesis (i.e. induced by ipecac) is no longer recommended in<unk> ing situations, because vomiting is ineffective at removing<unk> s. * Gastric lavage, commonly known as a stomach pump, is the insertion of a tube into the stomach, followed by administration of water or saline down the tube. The liquid is then removed along with the contents of the stomach. Lavage has been used for many years as a common treatment for<unk> ed patients. However, a recent review of the procedure in<unk> ings suggests no benefit. It is still sometimes used if it can be performed within 1 hour of ingestion and the exposure is potentially life-threatening. * Nasogastric aspiration involves the placement of a tube via the nose down into the stomach, the stomach contents are then removed by suction. This procedure is mainly used for liquid ingestions where activated charcoal is ineffective, e.g. ethylene glycol<unk> ing. * Whole bowel irrigation cleanses the bowel. This is achieved by giving the patient large amounts of a polyethylene glycol solution. The osmotically balanced polyethylene glycol solution is not absorbed into the body, having the effect of flushing out the entire gastrointestinal tract. Its major uses are to treat ingestion of sustained release drugs, toxins not absorbed by activated charcoal (e.g., lithium, iron), and for removal of ingested drug packets (body packing/smuggling). Enhanced excretion * In some situations elimination of the<unk>  can be enhanced using diuresis, hemodialysis, hemoperfusion, hyperbaric medicine, peritoneal dialysis, exchange transfusion or chelation. However, this may actually worsen the<unk> ing in some cases, so it should always be verified based on what substances are involved.
Poison
Tin poisoning
Xenointoxication
Mushroom poisoning
Secondary poisoning
Cyanide poisoning
Chinese alchemical elixir poisoning
Theobromine poisoning