Poisoning toxidromes

Toxidrome is a term which is used to describe a constellation of signs and symptoms, which when taken collectively, may characterize the poison in question. This is particularly important if patient has altered sensorium, and there is no reliable informant for a medical history. It may be important to review physical features and the differential diagnosis of the... 

Toxic syndromes ( toxidromes ) are clinical syndromes that are essential for the successful recognition of poisoning patterns. A toxidrome is the constellation of clinical signs and symptoms that suggests a specific class of poisoning. The most important toxidromes are (1) anticholinergic, (2) cholinergic, (3) opioid and opioid withdrawal, (4) sedative-hypnotic and sedative-hypnotic withdrawal, and (5) sympathomimetic. Symptoms for these toxidromes are listed in Table 34-2. 

Mn/os R et al Toxidromes associated with the most common plant ingestions. Vet Human Toxicol 2001 43 366. [PMID 11757998] (Review of toxic syndromes associated with 20 common plant exposures, based on review of over 700,000 calls to poison control centers.)... 

In cholinergic syndromes, the presenting signs and symptoms are related to the build-up of acetylcholine (ACh) in the voluntary and autonomic nervous systems and the characteristic toxidrome has been described for many years. Most cases have been following pesticide exposure or pesticide self-poisoning, but there is also information about accidental and deliberate release of nerve agents. 

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