Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- risk of carbon monoxide exposure
- headache
- nausea
- vomiting
- vertigo
- altered consciousness
- weakness
- dizziness
- dyspnoea
- pain
- hypotension or hypertension
- sleep changes
- irritability
- flu-like symptoms
Other diagnostic factors
- delayed neuropsychiatric features
- other severe neurological symptoms
- focal neurological abnormalities
- cardiac arrest
- pulmonary oedema
- disseminated intravascular coagulation
- skin lesions
Risk factors
- exposure to incomplete combustion of carbon-containing material
- exposure to methylene chloride
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- blood gas analysis
- 12-lead ECG
- cardiac monitoring
- glucose
- full blood count
- urea and electrolytes
- creatinine
- troponin
- creatine kinase
Investigations to consider
- CT head
- magnetic resonance spectroscopy
- chest x-ray
- liver function tests
- pregnancy test
Treatment algorithm
all patients (acute or chronic carbon monoxide poisoning)
Contributors
Expert advisers
Alexander Alexiou, MB, BS, BSc, DCH, FRCEM, Dip IMC RCSEd
Emergency Medicine Consultant
Barts Health NHS Trust
Physician Response Unit Consultant
London’s Air Ambulance
Royal London Hospital
London
UK
Disclosures
AA declares that he has no competing interests.
Acknowledgements
BMJ Best Practice would like to gratefully acknowledge the previous team of expert contributors, whose work is retained in parts of the content:
Jason J Rose, MD, MBA
Assistant Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
PA
Disclosures: JJR is a co-inventor on patent applications for the use of heme-based molecules as antidotes for CO poisoning. JJR is a shareholder, officer, and director of Globin Solutions, Inc. Globin Solutions, Inc. has an exclusive license to this technology. Globin Solutions, Inc. had an option agreement to technology directed at using hydroxycobalamin for CO poisoning from Virginia Commonwealth University in the last 12 months. JJR is an author of publications cited within this topic.
Peer reviewers
Robert Taylor, MBChB, MRCP(UK), MRCP(London), DipMedTox, DipTher PGDME, FHEA FRCEM
Acute Hospital Sub Dean (Cornwall)
Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer
Consultant Emergency Physician
University of Exeter Medical School
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS trust
Truro
UK
Disclosures
RT declares that he has no competing interests.
Editors
Emma Quigley
Section Editor, BMJ Best Practice
Disclosures
EQ declares that she has no competing interests.
Tannaz Aliabadi-Oglesby
Lead Section Editor, BMJ Best Practice
Disclosures
TAO declares that she has no competing interests.
Julie Costello
Comorbidities Editor, BMJ Best Practice
Disclosures
JC declares that she has no competing interests.
Adam Mitchell
Drug Editor, BMJ Best Practice
Disclosures
AM declares that he has no competing interests.
Differentials
- Viral infection
- Alcohol intoxication
- Migraine
More DifferentialsGuidelines
- Guideline for oxygen use in healthcare and emergency settings
- Carbon monoxide poisoning: recognise the symptoms and tackle the cause
More GuidelinesPatient information
Carbon monoxide poisoning
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