Thursday, August 11, 2011

Emedinews:Insights on Medicolegal issues:What is a poison?



The WHO describes a poison as any substance that causes harm if it gets into the body. Harm can be mild, e.g. headache or nausea or severe e.g. fits or very high fever. Individuals who suffer severe poisoning may die. The amount of a chemical substance that gets into the body at one time is called the dose. A dose that causes poisoning is a poisonous dose or toxic dose. The smallest amount that causes harm is the threshold dose. If the amount of a chemical substance that gets into the body is less than the threshold dose, the chemical will not cause poisoning and may even have beneficial effects. For example, medicines have good effects if people take the right doses, but some can be poisonous if taken in over dosages. In India, a National Poisons Control Programme is in place to improve the treatment and prevention of poisoning.

(Contributed by Dr Sudhir Gupta)

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