In the northern region of the US most CO poisoning cases occur during the winter heating season. The leading source of non-fire, unintentional CO poisoning is from indoor home heating sources such as furnaces, water heaters, space heaters, lanterns, stoves, and similar appliances. Tracking the occurrence of CO poisonings can also provide information on unrecognized exposures such as spikes in CO poisoning after disasters and storms due to emergency generator use. The EPHT program has identified the need for surveillance for unintentional CO poisonings to support public health prevention and intervention activities. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) worked with EPHT state partners to develop nationally consistent data measures (NCDM) for environmental and health data. Why is the Massachusetts Department of Public Health tracking CO as a public health issue in the state? Pulmonary/respiratory distress might include pulmonary edema, tachypnea or respiratory arrest. Cardiovascular involvement may result in hypotension, arrhythmias and even myocardial ischemia or infarction. In addition to headache and subjective trouble thinking, patients may show confusion, slowed thought processing, irritability, ataxia, seizures, or loss of consciousness. Any organ can be affected by CO poisoning. Severe CO poisoning is less difficult to diagnose. If a patient complains of those symptoms, but does not have a fever, CO poisoning should be considered and a focused history with exposure to CO sources should be taken. However, these symptoms can also point to other illnesses. The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea or vomiting, trouble thinking, diarrhea, weakness, and shortness of breath. Products powered by internal combustion engine such as portable generators, automobiles, lawn mowers, and power washers produce CO. It is produced by the incomplete burning of various fuels, including gasoline, coal, wood, charcoal, oil, kerosene, propane, and natural gas. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |