This article was medically reviewed by Daniel Wozniczka, MD, MPH. Dr. Wozniczka is an Internal Medicine Physician, who is focused on the intersection of medicine, economics, and policy. He has global healthcare experience in Sub Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia. He serves currently as a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Public Health Service and a Medical Officer for the Epidemic Intelligence Service in the CDC. He completed his MD at Jagiellonian University in 2014, and also holds an MBA and Masters in Public Health from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
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A deadly poison, ricin can be inhaled, ingested, or injected. However, you probably don't need to worry about being exposed to ricin unless you are a chemist using castor oil in an experiment or unless you are using pesticides. Regardless of the method of poisoning, ricin poisoning is serious and needs to be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. Diagnosing ricin poisoning, though, can be difficult because the symptoms associated with it are also indicative of a variety of other ailments. The first thing you should do is call 911 (or emergency services in your country) if you believe you have been exposed to ricin.
Steps
Consulting a Medical Professional
Call for help right away. If you believe that you or someone you know has been exposed to ricin, then it is crucial for you to get medical help right away. Call emergency services, such as by dialing 911 in the United States.- You can also call poison control in the US at 1-800-222-1222.[1]
Allow your doctor to monitor your lungs. One of the first things your doctor will do is to listen to and run diagnostics on your lungs. This is important, as one of the most obvious signs of ricin inhalation is a sudden decrease in the ability of the lungs to work properly.- Your doctor may want to take an X-ray of your lungs to see if there is a fluid buildup.
- Your doctor may listen to your chest with a stethoscope to see if there is fluid buildup.[2]
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Have your blood tested. Within a few hours of ricin poisoning, your organs may begin to experience decreased function as they cope with the toxin. As a result, one of the best ways to diagnose ricin poisoning is through a blood work up. In a blood test, your doctor will pay special attention to your:- Kidney function
- Liver function
- Spleen function[3]
Alert authorities so they can test specific locations for ricin. While it is important that medical professionals test you to confirm ricin poisoning, you must also alert law enforcement personnel. Law enforcement will close down and test sites where you were potentially poisoned.- Law enforcement might be able to locate ricin powder or residue, which will help in confirming your diagnosis.
- Make sure to inform law enforcement or other emergency service personnel once you suspect ricin poisoning.
- Informing law enforcement is critical, as they can secure the area and prevent others from being affected.[4]
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Observing Symptoms of Ricin Poisoning by Inhalation
Notice a fever. One of the first indications of ricin inhalation is the development of a fever. While the appearance of fever may be confused with other ailments, combined with other symptoms it should not be dismissed.[5]- The sudden onset of a fever without any symptoms of a cold or flu combined with indications of ricin poisoning should be treated seriously.
Observe tightness in the chest. Within hours of inhaling ricin, you will begin to experience tightness in your chest. This may feel as if someone or something is pushing down on your chest and making it difficult for you to breathe.[6]- When determining whether tightness is associated with ricin poisoning, consider if there is a skeletal muscular or another reason for the symptom.
Report respiratory issues. Serious respiratory issues often accompany the feeling of tightness in your chest and may be associated with fluid buildup in your lungs. These issues will increase over the hours after you have inhaled ricin. You may experience:[7]- Moderate to severe coughing. This will occur rapidly and should not be confused with the onset of a chest cold or flu.
- Severe irritation or inflammation of your lungs and throat.
- Fluid buildup in your lungs or elsewhere in your respiratory system.
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Observing Symptoms of Ricin Poisoning by Ingestion
Watch for dark or red stool. After ingesting ricin, you may notice discolored stool within 4 to 10 hours. Discolored stool is one of the most obvious indications of intestinal bleeding associated with ricin poisoning. Your stool may appear:[8]- Black
- Tarry
- Dark red
- Bright red
Notice abnormal vomit. Next to discolored stool, abnormal vomit is one of the most obvious signs of intestinal bleeding. Sudden vomiting in the context of suspected ricin poisoning should be treated seriously. Abnormal vomit may appear:[9]- Bright red
- To have black, brown, or dark specks in it.
- Within 4 to 10 hours (or sooner).
Report abdominal problems. Intestinal bleeding is also associated with a variety of abdominal issues that will affect your ability to function normally. As with other symptoms of ingesting ricin, this may happen within 4 to 10 hours. Some of the most common abdominal issues include:[10]- Pain or cramps
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness or tiredness
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Expert Q&A
References
- ↑ http://www.aapcc.org/
- ↑ http://www.houstontx.gov/health/OSPHP/Chemical%20Emergencies/Ricin.pdf
- ↑ https://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/ricin/facts.asp
- ↑ https://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/ricin/facts.asp
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/ricin/expert-answers/faq-20057863
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/ricin/expert-answers/faq-20057863
- ↑ http://www.houstontx.gov/health/OSPHP/Chemical%20Emergencies/Ricin.pdf
- ↑ https://www.ndhealth.gov/Disease/Documents/faqs/Ricin.pdf
- ↑ https://www.ndhealth.gov/Disease/Documents/faqs/Ricin.pdf
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