Question

A client is admitted to the emergency department with carbon monoxide poisoning. Which signs and symptoms indicate carbon monoxide poisoning? Select all that apply.

1.Mental changes
2.Cardiac irregularities 3.Cherry-red skin color 4.Abnormal arterial blood gas results
5.Negative carboxyhemoglobin levels

Answer 1

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include mental changes, cardiac irregularities, abnormal arterial blood gas results, and sometimes cherry-red skin color. Negative carboxyhemoglobin levels would not be indicative of poisoning. Immediate treatment involves oxygen administration.

Step-by-step explanation:

Signs and symptoms that indicate carbon monoxide poisoning include mental changes, cardiac irregularities, and abnormal arterial blood gas results. Patients may exhibit a cherry-red skin color, but this is not common. Negative carboxyhemoglobin levels would not indicate carbon monoxide poisoning.

Carbon monoxide binds with high affinity to hemoglobin, preventing oxygen transport and leading to symptoms such as headache, dizziness, and nausea.Severe exposure can cause loss of consciousness, seizures, and even death.

Immediate treatment involves removing the person from the CO source and administering 100 percent oxygen to hasten the dissociation of carbon monoxide from carboxyhemoglobin.