Health Protection Agency Issues Doctors With Advice On Diagnosing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, UK

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Also Included In: Respiratory / Asthma
Article Date: 17 Mar 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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The Health Protection Agency is this week posting every GP and Emergency Physician in England with a diagnostic algorithm (flowchart) to help detect the symptoms of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning among patients. The diagnostic algorithm - which is being sent to every GP and Emergency Physician in England - is supported by Gas Safe and has been produced in consultation with the Royal College of General Practitioners, the College of Emergency Medicine and the Department of Heath.

It will help doctors diagnose CO poisoning among patients who may have symptoms more commonly associated with other ailments. It also provides key telephone numbers for advice services.

In addition to helping doctors diagnose CO poisoning, the algorithm - which is produced on laminated card - recommends that doctors contact their local Health Protection Unit (HPU) after diagnosing CO poisoning. The HPU will organise a co-ordinated response by Environmental Health and other key services to assist and protect patients as well as others who might be at risk.

More than 50 people die each year in the UK from accidental exposure to high levels of CO - which is created when fossil fuels or wood burn without enough air - and hundreds more may have their health affected by exposure to low levels of the odourless, colourless and tasteless gas.

Symptoms of CO poisoning include headaches, nausea / vomiting, drowsiness, dizziness, shortness of breath and chest pains.

An electronic copy of the algorithm can be found here.

Source
Liz Francis
CRCE Press Office
Health Protection Agency
UK