Diagnosis in Clinical Toxicology

Diagnosis in clinical toxicology is based on the same principles as diagnosis in other fields of medecine. The global diagnostic approach to the poisoned patient is based on the evaluation of the history, the symptomatology, the results of the biomedical investigations and of the toxicological analytical data, and in some cases on therapeutic tests. All these data should correlate with the implicated toxin(s). The exact diagnosis should contribute to the assessment of the prognosis and indicate appropriate treatment which may include symptomatic and supportive measures, decontamination, enhancement of elimination and antidotes. However, a precise diagnosis with the exact knowledge of the toxin is rarely the first priority in an emergency situation. The early management of the poisoned patient comprises a brief examination with the evaluation of the vital signs, and supportive measures if necessary.