ABSTRACT
Poisoning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296 12.6 Case Study of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297 12.7 Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and potentially toxic gas. These properties have earned it the title of “the silent killer”.1 CO poisoning is responsible for more than one half of the poisoning fatalities reported in this country every year. It is the leading cause of death in industrial accidents as well. Fatalities and CO-related injuries are also common throughout the world. Another factor that makes CO an especially dangerous toxin is that the early symptoms of poisoning are easily confused (and often misdiagnosed) as the onset of a cold or the flu, stomach virus, or other common diseases.2
