MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Carbon monoxide

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Carbon monoxide

Contents of this page:
Definition Where Found Symptoms Home Treatment	Before Calling Emergency Poison Control, or a local emergency number What to expect at the emergency room Expectations (prognosis)

Definition

Poisoning from inhalation of carbon monoxide.

Where Found

any combustion engine such as automobile engines emit carbon monoxide in the exhaust
portable propane heaters
barbecues burning charcoal (charcoal should never be burned indoors!)
portable or non-vented natural gas appliances/furnaces/water heaters

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms

headache
irritability
confusion
fainting
impaired judgment
unconsciousness
bizarre behavior
shortness of breath
rapid breathing
no breathing
chest pain
nausea and vomiting
abnormal heart beat
rapid heart beat
low blood pressure
hyperactivity
convulsions
coma
shock

Home Treatment

Get the individual out into fresh air and ventilate the area. Call an ambulance immediately. Artificial breathing may need to be administered if the individual has stopped breathing.

PREVENTION

Install a carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your residence, and an additional detector near any major gas-burning appliances (such as a furnace or water heater).
Conduct regular maintenance and inspection of gas-burning equipment in the home.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

the patient's age, weight, and condition
how long they may have been exposed to the carbon monoxide, if known

Poison Control, or a local emergency number

Poison control will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See poison control centers for the national telephone number.

What to expect at the emergency room

Some or all of the following may be performed:

oxygen will be administered
vital signs will be monitored
various medications may be administered if needed
hyperbaric oxygen therapy at an appropriate facility

Expectations (prognosis)

If the individual recovers, it will be slowly. Depending on the exposure levels of carbon monoxide and the time of exposure, permanent brain damage may occur. If the individual still has symptoms of impaired mental ability after two weeks, the likelihood of complete recovery is not very good. Even if an individual is symptom free for a while, impaired mental ability can reappear within the first 1-2 weeks.

Update Date: 5/21/2003

Updated by: Todd Severson, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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