Strychnine poisoning
Strychnine poisoning
Strychnine poisoning (/ˈstrɪkniːn/ STRIK-neen) is a type of poisoning which occurs when an individual is exposed to the toxic chemical compound strychnine, a highly toxic, colorless, bitter, crystalline alkaloid used as a pesticide, particularly for killing small vertebrates such as birds and rodents.
Etymology
The term "strychnine" is derived from the Greek word "strychnos", which means "nightshade". The compound was first discovered in the seeds of the Strychnos nux-vomica tree, a plant native to India and Southeast Asia.
Symptoms
Symptoms of strychnine poisoning can be severe and are usually apparent within 15 to 60 minutes of ingestion. These may include muscle stiffness, convulsions, severe and painful muscle contractions, difficulty breathing, and death due to asphyxiation or sheer exhaustion from the convulsions.
Treatment
Treatment for strychnine poisoning primarily involves removing the strychnine from the body (if possible), managing symptoms, and providing supportive care. This may include the use of activated charcoal to absorb the strychnine, medications to control seizures, and artificial respiration.
Related Terms
- Toxicology: The study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms.
- Pesticide: Substances used to kill pests, including insects, rodents, fungi, and unwanted plants (weeds).
- Asphyxiation: A condition of severely deficient supply of oxygen to the body that arises from abnormal breathing.
- Activated charcoal: A form of carbon processed to have small, low-volume pores that increase the surface area available for adsorption or chemical reactions.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Strychnine poisoning
- Wikipedia's article - Strychnine poisoning
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