Paracetamol poisoning

Paracetamol overdose is common. If left untreated, liver and/or renal failure can develop. Administration of the antidote, acetylcysteine, within 8 –10 hours of overdose minimizes or prevents liver damage. After overdose, the tests used to identify that patients are at risk of liver injury are well established but have limitations. Once liver injury has occurred, important prognostic factors are the presence of hepatic encephalopathy, the int ernational normalized ratio, acid–base status and renal function.
Source: Medicine - Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Tags: Poisonous substances Source Type: research