Condition Lookup

Opioid toxicity (e.g., heroin, fentanyl)

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Symptoms:
respiratory depression; pinpoint pupils; unconsciousness; hypotension; cyanosis; bradycardia

Root Cause:
Opioids bind excessively to mu-opioid receptors, leading to respiratory and central nervous system depression.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Based on clinical history, physical examination, and response to naloxone. Supporting tests include toxicology screens and arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis for respiratory acidosis.

Treatment:
Immediate administration of naloxone (opioid antagonist), airway management, oxygen supplementation, and supportive care in a monitored setting.

Medications:
Naloxone , an opioid antagonist, reverses respiratory and CNS depression by displacing opioids from receptors.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
High prevalence in areas with widespread opioid use; opioid-related deaths account for a significant proportion of drug overdose fatalities globally.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Substance use disorder, high-dose opioid prescriptions, concurrent sedative use, mental health disorders, and lack of access to treatment or naloxone.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Prognosis is good if treated promptly with naloxone; delays in treatment can lead to hypoxic brain injury or death.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Hypoxic brain injury, aspiration pneumonia, rhabdomyolysis, and death.

Acetaminophen overdose

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Category: Toxicology and Overdose

Sub-category: Drug Overdoses

Symptoms:
nausea; vomiting; abdominal pain; confusion; jaundice (late stage); elevated liver enzymes

Root Cause:
Excessive acetaminophen overwhelms the liver's ability to conjugate and detoxify NAPQI (toxic metabolite), causing hepatocellular damage.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
History of overdose, serum acetaminophen levels, and liver function tests (LFTs); use of the Rumack-Matthew nomogram for risk assessment.

Treatment:
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) administration (oral or IV) to replenish glutathione, activated charcoal if within 1-2 hours of ingestion, and supportive care.

Medications:
N-acetylcysteine (antidote for acetaminophen toxicity) and activated charcoal (gastric decontaminant).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Acetaminophen toxicity is one of the most common causes of drug overdoses globally and a leading cause of acute liver failure in the U.S.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Chronic acetaminophen use, concurrent alcohol consumption, pre-existing liver disease, and taking higher-than-recommended doses.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with early treatment; delayed treatment increases the risk of liver failure, necessitating a liver transplant.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Acute liver failure, metabolic acidosis, encephalopathy, and death.

Benzodiazepine overdose

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Category: Toxicology and Overdose

Sub-category: Drug Overdoses

Symptoms:
drowsiness; slurred speech; confusion; hypotension; respiratory depression (rare if taken alone); ataxia

Root Cause:
Excessive potentiation of GABA-A receptors leads to central nervous system depression.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
History of overdose, clinical presentation, and urine toxicology testing.

Treatment:
Supportive care (airway management, IV fluids), flumazenil (benzodiazepine receptor antagonist) in selective cases, and monitoring for respiratory depression.

Medications:
Flumazenil , a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, used cautiously due to the risk of seizures in chronic users.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common due to the widespread prescription and misuse of benzodiazepines; often co-ingested with other substances like alcohol or opioids.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Polypharmacy, substance use disorder, underlying mental health issues, and unsupervised access to medications.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally good if treated promptly; co-ingestion with other CNS depressants worsens outcomes.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Respiratory failure, coma, aspiration pneumonia, and death.

Alcohol poisoning

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Category: Toxicology and Overdose

Sub-category: Substance Abuse

Symptoms:
confusion; vomiting; hypothermia; seizures; slow or irregular breathing; unconsciousness

Root Cause:
Excessive ethanol consumption depresses the central nervous system, impairs respiratory function, and leads to metabolic acidosis.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical presentation, serum ethanol levels, and assessment for metabolic derangements (ABG, electrolyte panel).

Treatment:
Airway protection, intravenous fluids, thiamine and glucose supplementation, and monitoring in an intensive care setting.

Medications:
Thiamine (to prevent Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome) and glucose (to address hypoglycemia). No direct antidote for ethanol toxicity.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Alcohol poisoning is a frequent emergency, especially among binge drinkers; accounts for thousands of deaths annually worldwide.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Binge drinking, alcohol use disorder, low body weight, and concurrent use of sedatives or opioids.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with early intervention; severe cases can result in brain damage or death.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Hypoglycemia, hypothermia, aspiration, respiratory depression, and death.

Stimulant toxicity (e.g., cocaine, methamphetamine)

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Category: Toxicology and Overdose

Sub-category: Drug Overdoses

Symptoms:
tachycardia; hypertension; agitation; seizures; chest pain; hyperthermia

Root Cause:
Excessive stimulation of the central and sympathetic nervous systems due to increased dopamine and norepinephrine levels.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, physical examination, urine toxicology, and supporting tests like ECG and serum chemistry.

Treatment:
Benzodiazepines for sedation and seizure control, cooling measures for hyperthermia, IV fluids, and supportive care for cardiovascular effects.

Medications:
Benzodiazepines (e.g., lorazepam or diazepam ) for agitation and seizures; beta-blockers are avoided due to unopposed alpha-adrenergic stimulation.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Cocaine and methamphetamine toxicity is prevalent among recreational users; associated with a high burden of emergency visits.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Recreational drug use, poly-drug abuse, and underlying cardiovascular conditions.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Variable; mild cases resolve with supportive care, but severe cases with complications like stroke or cardiac arrest can be fatal.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Stroke, myocardial infarction, rhabdomyolysis, hyperthermia, and sudden death.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Category: Toxicology and Overdose

Sub-category: Chemical Exposures

Symptoms:
headache; dizziness; nausea; shortness of breath; confusion; loss of consciousness; chest pain; seizures

Root Cause:
Carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin with a higher affinity than oxygen, reducing oxygen delivery to tissues and causing hypoxia.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Measurement of carboxyhemoglobin levels in blood using co-oximetry, pulse CO-oximeter, or arterial blood gas analysis. Symptoms and exposure history also aid diagnosis.

Treatment:
Immediate removal from the CO exposure source, 100% oxygen therapy through a non-rebreather mask, or hyperbaric oxygen therapy in severe cases.

Medications:
No direct medications, but 100% oxygen therapy and hyperbaric oxygen are the main treatments. Hyperbaric oxygen is classified as a high-pressure oxygen delivery treatment.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
A leading cause of poisoning-related deaths worldwide, with an estimated 50,000 emergency department visits annually in the U.S.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Poorly ventilated spaces, faulty heating systems, exposure to fires, and use of charcoal or gas grills indoors.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with timely treatment; delayed or severe exposure may lead to long-term neurological complications.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Neurological sequelae (e.g., memory loss, difficulty concentrating), myocardial ischemia, arrhythmias, and death.

Cyanide Poisoning

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Category: Toxicology and Overdose

Sub-category: Chemical Exposures

Symptoms:
shortness of breath; confusion; headache; nausea; seizures; loss of consciousness; cardiac arrest

Root Cause:
Cyanide inhibits cytochrome oxidase in mitochondria, blocking cellular respiration and leading to rapid tissue hypoxia.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical suspicion based on exposure history, measurement of cyanide levels in blood, arterial blood gas showing metabolic acidosis with high lactate.

Treatment:
Administration of specific antidotes (e.g., hydroxocobalamin, sodium thiosulfate) and supportive care, including oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation if needed.

Medications:
Hydroxocobalamin (binds cyanide to form cyanocobalamin , excreted in urine), Sodium thiosulfate (enhances cyanide metabolism to thiocyanate), and Nitrites (to induce methemoglobin formation, binding cyanide). These are classified as antidotes.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare in the general population but associated with industrial exposures, smoke inhalation from fires, and deliberate ingestion.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Exposure to industrial chemicals, smoke inhalation from fires, ingestion of cyanogenic compounds (e.g., amygdalin in apricot seeds).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with early and appropriate treatment; poor prognosis in delayed or severe cases without intervention.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Hypoxic brain injury, multi-organ failure, and death.

Organophosphate Poisoning

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Category: Toxicology and Overdose

Sub-category: Chemical Exposures

Symptoms:
salivation; lacrimation; urination; diarrhea; gastrointestinal cramping; emesis; muscle weakness; seizures; respiratory distress

Root Cause:
Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, leading to accumulation of acetylcholine and overstimulation of cholinergic receptors in the nervous system.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical presentation of cholinergic symptoms, history of exposure to pesticides or organophosphates, low cholinesterase activity in plasma or red blood cells.

Treatment:
Atropine (to counteract muscarinic symptoms), pralidoxime (to regenerate acetylcholinesterase), decontamination (e.g., removal of contaminated clothing, washing skin), and supportive care (e.g., oxygen, mechanical ventilation).

Medications:
Atropine (antimuscarinic agent to reduce secretions and reverse bradycardia), Pralidoxime (AChE reactivator), Diazepam (for seizures).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in agricultural settings; worldwide, organophosphate poisoning accounts for thousands of deaths annually, particularly in developing countries.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Agricultural workers, accidental exposure, and intentional ingestion in cases of self-harm.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Variable; excellent with prompt treatment, but delayed treatment can lead to respiratory failure and death.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Respiratory failure, seizures, long-term neurological sequelae, and death.

Snake Bites

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Category: Toxicology and Overdose

Sub-category: Envenomations

Symptoms:
localized pain and swelling; redness; bruising; nausea; vomiting; difficulty breathing; altered mental status; bleeding disorders; paralysis

Root Cause:
Snake venom contains a mixture of proteins, enzymes, and toxins that disrupt blood coagulation, damage tissues, and interfere with the nervous system or cardiovascular function.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, observation of bite marks, identification of the snake (if possible), blood tests for coagulation disorders, and monitoring for systemic effects.

Treatment:
Antivenom administration specific to the snake species, wound care, supportive care (e.g., IV fluids, oxygen), and monitoring for complications.

Medications:
Antivenom

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Estimated 5.4 million bites occur worldwide annually, with approximately 2.7 million envenomations and 81,000–138,000 deaths.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Outdoor activities in snake habitats, lack of protective footwear, delayed medical care, and inadequate access to antivenom.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good if treated promptly with appropriate antivenom; delayed treatment increases the risk of permanent damage or death.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Tissue necrosis, compartment syndrome, coagulopathy, renal failure, and systemic shock.

Spider Bites - Black Widow

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Category: Toxicology and Overdose

Sub-category: Envenomations

Symptoms:
severe muscle cramps; abdominal pain; sweating; high blood pressure; restlessness

Root Cause:
Spider venom contains toxins that affect the nervous system (black widow) or cause local tissue destruction and systemic inflammation (brown recluse).

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, observation of the bite area, identification of the spider (if possible), and symptom correlation.

Treatment:
Wound care, supportive care, muscle relaxants for black widow bites, and possibly antivenom. Surgical debridement may be needed for necrotic wounds.

Medications:
Antivenom

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Exact prevalence unknown; bites are more common in specific geographic areas where these spiders are endemic.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Working in or near woodpiles, attics, or basements; outdoor activities; handling debris.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Typically good with prompt treatment; severe complications are rare but may include long-term tissue damage.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Systemic toxicity (black widow), extensive necrosis (brown recluse), secondary infections.

Spider Bites - Brown Recluse

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Category: Toxicology and Overdose

Sub-category: Envenomations

Symptoms:
localized pain and redness; necrotic skin lesions; fever; chills; malaise

Root Cause:
Spider venom contains toxins that affect the nervous system (black widow) or cause local tissue destruction and systemic inflammation (brown recluse).

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, observation of the bite area, identification of the spider (if possible), and symptom correlation.

Treatment:
Wound care, supportive care, muscle relaxants for black widow bites, and possibly antivenom. Surgical debridement may be needed for necrotic wounds.

Medications:
Antivenom

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Exact prevalence unknown; bites are more common in specific geographic areas where these spiders are endemic.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Working in or near woodpiles, attics, or basements; outdoor activities; handling debris.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Typically good with prompt treatment; severe complications are rare but may include long-term tissue damage.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Systemic toxicity (black widow), extensive necrosis (brown recluse), secondary infections.

Marine Envenomations (e.g., Jellyfish, Stingrays)

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Category: Toxicology and Overdose

Sub-category: Envenomations

Symptoms:
localized pain; burning or stinging sensation; redness and swelling; nausea; vomiting; difficulty breathing; muscle cramps; cardiac symptoms in severe cases

Root Cause:
Toxins from marine animals cause local or systemic effects, including tissue damage, allergic reactions, and cardiovascular disturbances.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, observation of sting site, identification of the marine animal, and symptom assessment.

Treatment:
Removal of stingers or spines, rinsing with vinegar or hot water, pain management, and supportive care. Antivenom may be used for specific stings (e.g., box jellyfish).

Medications:
Pain Relievers

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in coastal regions; thousands of cases occur annually worldwide.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Swimming or diving in marine environments, inadequate protective measures (e.g., wetsuits).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with appropriate treatment; severe cases (e.g., box jellyfish stings) require prompt intervention.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Severe allergic reactions, tissue necrosis, infection, and cardiac arrest in rare cases.