The principal manifestation of poisoning induced by the alkaline substance is a corrosive effects in tissues. The alkalies combine with protein and fat of the tissue, causing deep penetrating injury and liquefactive necrosis of the organs. Liquid lye is the most frequently ingested form of corrosive agents and causes most of the deaths associated with corrosive agent ingestion. We have experienced 5 fatal cases which were accidentally administered liquid lye as soap-saline enema in the hospital during 30 days. the 3 cases of them were autopsied at this institute. At autopsy, the digestive tract including rectum, colon and small intestine revealed hemorrhagic necrosis with multiple area of perforation. Because these were the first proved cases that the liquid lye was used as enema solution, we report here.
Alkalies ; Autopsy ; Colon ; Corrosion ; Eating ; Enema* ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Intestine, Small ; Lye* ; Necrosis ; Poisoning ; Rectum

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients admitted to emergency rooms with ocular chemical injuries, the substances responsible for such injuries, in order to improve their prevention and treatment. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 73 patients admitted to the hospital with ocular chemical injuries from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010. The subjects were divided into groups based on the PSS (poisoning severity score) grade of their injuries, where grades 0 and 1 were classified as the low group (low PSS) and grades 2 and 3 were classified as the high group (high PSS). There were 28 subjects in the low PSS group (38.3%) and 45 subjects in the high PSS group (61.6%). The results were retrospectively reviewed by examining the medical records of the patients. RESULTS: Upon their arrival to the hospital, the most common symptoms were red eye (50.7%), pain (39.7%), and eye irritation (39.7%). Red eyes were more frequently observed from 27 persons (60%) in the high PSS group (p=0.04). The most common causative substances were chemicals and adhesives/glues for both groups (21 cases each). Among the 15 patients exposed to acids or alkalis, 13 patients belonged to the high PSS group. Only two patients visited the hospital after having washed their eyes. CONCLUSION: Worse damage was observed from work-related exposure (including alkali or acid exposure), causing red eye and ocular chemical injuries. Onsite first aid was lacking.
Alkalies ; Burns, Chemical ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Eye Injuries* ; First Aid ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Occupational Exposure ; Poisoning ; Retrospective Studies ; Therapeutic Irrigation

Isoniazid (INH), a hydrazide of isonicotinic acid, has been used for more than 30 years for the treatment of tuberculosis and is one of the most effective anti-tuberculous agents so far. In spite of the widespread use of INH, very few accidental or suicidal poisonings have been reported, Acute INH intoxication is characterized by hyperpyrexia, respiratory distress, coma seizure, metabolic acisosis, hyperglycemia and acetonuria Especially metabolic acidosis is not corrected by alkali therapy in which usual dose of bicarbonate supply, and seizure attacks also has not controlled by common anti-epileptic drugs, so it needed a large quantity of intravenous pyridoxine and diazepam infusion. This report describes an adult who ingested large amount of INH with the intent of suicide and was presented with the fatal status epilepticus and severe metabolic acidosis.
Acidosis ; Adult ; Alkalies ; Coma ; Diazepam ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Isoniazid* ; Isonicotinic Acids ; Ketosis ; Poisoning ; Pyridoxine ; Seizures ; Status Epilepticus ; Suicide ; Tuberculosis

Because of its officinal value, strychnos is widely used by clinic and individual. Since toxic dose and therapeutic dose are very close, strychnos poisoning cases are frequently reported. In this paper the chemical component, toxic dose, mechanisms of toxicity, poisoning symptom and pathological changes after strychnos poisoning are reviewed.
Alkalies/poisoning* ; Animals ; Central Nervous System/drug effects* ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Immune System/drug effects* ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Plants, Medicinal/chemistry* ; Seeds/chemistry* ; Strychnine/poisoning* ; Strychnos/toxicity*