![]() Oxygen therapy should be initiated promptly in all possible cases with consideration of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in cases of significant maternal exposure. ![]() Diagnosis is made based on initial history and physical evaluation and assessment of environmental CO levels presenting carboxyhemoglobin levels may be poor indicators of severity of disease. Nineteen published reports of CO poisoning during pregnancy described in varying levels of detail were found in the literature from 1971 to 2010.Ĭarbon monoxide poisoning requires a high degree of suspicion. Excluded studies were not in English or contained nonhuman subjects. We also conducted a review of cases described in the literature during the past half century to show varying presentations and treatment methodologies.Ī qualitative literature search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar for articles published between 19 that assessed cases of CO poisoning during pregnancy. We seek to assist practitioners with understanding the physiology and recognizing the presentations of both acute and chronic CO poisoning, as well as provide information on diagnosis and treatment options. As CO adversely affects both mother and fetus, it is important for practitioners to recognize and treat poisoning in a timely manner. Given the nonspecific signs and symptoms of toxicity, cases may go unsuspected or attributed to other etiologies. This is important if your child becomes ill and you have questions or need advice.Carbon monoxide (CO) is the leading cause of poisoning in the United States and is associated with high maternal and fetal mortality rates. Know how you can contact your child’s healthcare provider after office hours. If your child has a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit. Know what to expect if your child does not take the medicine or have the test or procedure. Know why a test or procedure is advised and what the results could mean. Also know what the side effects are.Īsk if your child’s condition can be treated in other ways. ![]() Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed and how it will help your child. Also write down any new directions your healthcare provider gives you for your child. Know the reason for the visit and what you want to happen.īefore your visit, write down questions you want answered.Īt the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis, and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your child’s healthcare provider: Keep generators outside and more than 20 feet away from your home, garage, and windows. Never use a gas-powered generator inside your garage or house, even if it's by an open window. This is especially important at high altitudes, where the risk for CO poisoning is increased. Vent fuel-burning appliances outside when possible.ĭon't use a charcoal grill inside your home, garage, tent, or camper.ĭon't use portable heaters or lanterns while sleeping in enclosed areas, such as tents, campers, and other vehicles. Use fuel-burning space heaters only in well-ventilated areas.ĭon't start up or let the engine run (idle) on gas lawn mowers, cars, trucks, or other vehicles in an enclosed area, even with the garage doors open. Have your fireplace cleaned and inspected each year. Have furnaces, water heaters, gas ovens, wood stoves, and any other fuel-burning appliances checked each year. Install carbon monoxide detectors in areas with appliances that burn fuel. You can protect your family from carbon monoxide poisoning in these ways: How can I help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in my child? Other sources of carbon monoxide include: Because of these safety problems, some states ban unvented space heaters.Ĭarbon monoxide can also leak from home or camping appliances that use oil, wood, gas, or coal and are not working correctly, such as: Older models don’t have this safety feature. These sensors shut off the heater when the oxygen level in the room falls below a certain level. Most space heaters use kerosene or natural gas for fuel. It can use up much of the oxygen in the room. A space heater that's not installed right or not working correctly can release carbon monoxide and other toxic fumes into the room. It vents the gases into the room, instead of outdoors. This is because the most common source of CO poisoning is an unvented, kerosene or gas fueled space heater in the home. Most carbon monoxide exposure happens in the winter. This can harm the brain, heart, and other organs. Breathing in carbon monoxide fumes prevents the body from using oxygen normally. Fuels include wood, gasoline, coal, natural gas, and kerosene. What causes carbon monoxide poisoning in a child?ĬO is a colorless, odorless gas made when fuel burns.
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