Via practica 1/2018

Carbon monoxide poisoning in prehospital care

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a major health, social and economic problem for most advanced countries in the world. It occupies the first place between random poisoning in Europe and North America. There are 125 – 150 people per year in the country (2 – 3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants per year) (1), with easier forms of poisoning – about 30 % are not properly diagnosed for nonspecific symptoms in the first contact. The most common mistaken diagnoses are: influenza, fatigue and depressive syndrome, gastroenteritis, alcohol and other poisoning, stroke, and others (2, 3). The problem with survivors are permanent neurological consequences, memory disorders, personality changes. The article presents the basic characteristics of CO poisoning, incidence, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment in pre-hospital care. Two short case reports from the emergency medical service are part of it.

Keywords: carbon monoxide, poisoning, oxygen therapy, carbon monoxide detector