Carbon monoxide poisoning: an ancient and frequent cause of accidental death

Br J Hosp Med (Lond). 2015 Mar;76(3):159-62. doi: 10.12968/hmed.2015.76.3.159.

Abstract

Carbon monoxide poisoning is both an ancient and current cause of inadvertent (accidental) death and more recently has emerged as a cause of suicide worldwide. This article describes the pathophysiology and epidemiology of this most toxic and frequently occult poison.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Accidents / statistics & numerical data
  • Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / epidemiology
  • Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / metabolism
  • Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / therapy*
  • Carboxyhemoglobin / metabolism
  • Erythropoietin / therapeutic use*
  • Hematinics / therapeutic use*
  • Hemoglobins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hyperbaric Oxygenation / methods*
  • Suicide, Attempted / statistics & numerical data
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology

Substances

  • Hematinics
  • Hemoglobins
  • Erythropoietin
  • Carboxyhemoglobin