Skip to main content

Toxic Ingestion — History — Clinical Pathway: Emergency Department, ICU and Inpatient

Toxic Ingestion Clinical Pathway — Emergency Department, ICU and Inpatient

History

Substance History
  • Substance(s) ingested
    • Amount ingested
      • Dosage
      • Number of pills
      • Amount of liquid
    • Route(s) of exposure
      • Aspiration
      • Ingestion
      • Inhalation
    • Time of exposure
  • Risk of Poly-substance Exposure
    • General inventory of prescription and over-the-counter medications in the home
    • Location and accessibility of other chemicals, toxins and substances in the home
Symptoms
  • Types and timing of symptoms prior to arrival
  • Progression or resolution of observed symptoms
Attempted Therapies
  • Time and frequency of therapies received prior to arrival
  • Response to therapies received
Poison Control Center Poison Control Center recommendations
Social/Behavioral History
  • Identify potential social concerns
    • History inconsistent with developmental/chronological age
    • Lack of child supervision
    • Substance use disorder and/or treatment in child’s care environment
    • Caregiver concerns about child’s safety
    • Prior ingestions
    • Other minors in the home or care environment potentially affected
  • Behavioral health
    • Suicidal ideation or intent
    • History of substance use disorder
    • History of mental health disorder
    • Behavioral health screen (BHS)
Past Medical History
  • Hepatic or renal failure
  • Metabolic disorder that may impact drug pharmacokinetics

 

Jump back to top