Conner Overfelt is a PA in cardiology at the LewisGale Medical Center in Salem, Va. The author has disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
JAAPA. 2023 Oct 1;36(10):1-3. doi: 10.1097/01.JAA.0000977740.22781.6b.
Diagnosis of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is challenging, as it is generally based on a history of present illness leading to clinical suspicion. CO is a tasteless, odorless, and colorless gas that has become known as the "silent killer." CO poisoning affects approximately 50,000 people in the United States each year and presents with wide range of nonspecific symptoms. Patients often do not know that they are being exposed to CO gas; it is therefore important to ask pertinent questions when taking a patient's history. Treatment consists of oxygen therapy. If a diagnosis is not made and treatment is not administered promptly, complications may occur.
一氧化碳(CO)中毒的诊断具有挑战性,因为它通常基于导致临床怀疑的当前疾病史。CO 是一种无味、无嗅、无色的气体,被称为“无声杀手”。每年美国约有 5 万人受到 CO 中毒的影响,其症状表现范围广泛,缺乏特异性。患者通常不知道自己正在接触 CO 气体;因此,在询问患者病史时,提出相关问题非常重要。治疗包括氧疗。如果未作出诊断并且未及时给予治疗,可能会出现并发症。