Diagnosis.
The diagnosis of acute carbon monoxide poisoning is often difficult to establish since the clinical manifestations are multiple and non-specific. Many cases of moderate intoxication with non-specific symptoms are therefore mistaken for viral syndromes. That’s why additional information is key: if patients live in the same place, especially in a house with auxiliary heaters, and present symptoms similar to those of a cold, the possibility of CO exposure becomes more apparent. If CO poisoning is suspected, blood carboxyhemoglobin levels should be measured with a CO-oximeter, venous blood samples may be used. A level of 30% indicates severe exposure. Other tests can be used to assess specific symptoms, for example, an ECG for chest pain or a brain CT for neurological symptoms.
