Sea Water Poisoning - Symptoms, First Aid, Treatment, Consequences

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 07:39

Poisoning by sea water

Sea water is a concept that includes all the water of the seas and oceans, which makes up about 70% of the world's area.

Source: depositphotos.com

Despite the absence of a visual difference between sea and fresh water, their chemical composition differs significantly. The salt content in fresh water is on average 0.146 ‰ (ppm), and in sea water - 35 ‰, which gives it a specific salty-bitter taste.

If we present the data in absolute terms, we can say that 35 g of salts are dissolved in 1 liter of water, 27 g of which is sodium chloride (table salt). In addition to chlorides, seawater contains sulfates, carbonates, salts of nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon, etc.

The high concentration of salts in sea water makes it unsuitable for consumption without preliminary desalination. The World Health Organization, after conducting a comprehensive study in 1959, concluded that sea water has a destructive effect on the body and it is strictly forbidden to use it for drinking. The conclusion about the unsuitability of seawater for drinking was made on the basis of laboratory studies and analysis of shipwreck statistics, from which it followed that more than 38% of the victims who consumed seawater died, and slightly more than 3% of those who did not drink it. For adequate removal of salts contained in 100 ml of seawater, they must be dissolved in 160 ml of fresh water.

The kidneys are primarily responsible for removing water from the body, for which such a salt load is abnormal, which leads to disruption of their functioning. To bring the composition of urine to a suitable for removal, the urinary system attracts the liquid of the body itself, including the intercellular fluid, which leads to its dehydration. Magnesium sulfate in seawater has a laxative effect, and salts irritate the stomach lining, causing vomiting, which further increases fluid loss.

Despite the fact that after drinking sea water symptoms very similar to those of intestinal dyspepsia develop, they are not a manifestation of poisoning in the generally accepted sense, since there are no poisonous substances in sea water.

The main cause of poisoning is pathogenic microorganisms (more often rota-, adeno-, rheo-, corona- and enteroviruses), which can be found in sea water. Swallowing water in this case leads to the development of gastroenteritis of varying severity.

Specific natural conditions (high humidity and temperature of air and water) and a large concentration of people, especially the most vulnerable group - young children, are extremely favorable for the multiplication of viruses and the preservation of their pathogenic properties. For example, a person who has recovered is able to excrete rotavirus in feces for 30 or more days after clinical recovery.

How does sea water poisoning happen?

Most often, characteristic symptoms after staying in sea water appear in young children (up to 3 years old) for the following reasons:

• swallowing sea water while swimming;
• involuntary ingress of water into the body, including through the nose, while playing in the water.

For a child, a few sips of sea water are enough for the condition to deteriorate.

Acute gastrointestinal upset is also possible in adults, for example, due to improper use or malfunction of the mouthpiece of the breathing tube when swimming with a mask, repeated ingress of water through the nose when diving, swimming in a storm.

Poisoning symptoms

When using sea water, a number of symptoms of varying severity arise (depending on the amount of water swallowed and the age of the victim), similar to the manifestations of poisoning:

• general weakness;
• lack of appetite;
• nausea, vomiting;
• tickling in the nasopharynx, rhinorrhea, sneezing.

In young children, the effects of swallowing seawater are usually more pronounced:

• drowsiness, apathy, severe weakness;
• pallor of the skin;
• loose stools, nausea, vomiting;
• decreased urination, concentrated color and pungent urine odor;
• a single increase in body temperature.

The listed symptoms usually stop on their own within 1-2 days, are not accompanied by a persistent increase in temperature, and do not require special therapeutic measures.

True sea water poisoning is possible when it contains pathogens. With a viral infection, symptoms will range from mild to extremely severe, depending on the initial state of the immune system and the type of virus. The disease usually manifests itself 1-3 days after direct infection (although sometimes the incubation period reaches 10-14 days) with the following symptoms:

• weakness;
• decreased appetite;
• nausea, vomiting, mushy stools;
• flatulence, rumbling and abdominal discomfort.

With a mild course, there are no signs of dehydration, dyspeptic symptoms are not very pronounced, body temperature is within normal limits, on 3-4 days the condition spontaneously improves.

Moderate and severe infections have similar symptoms, differing only in severity:

• weakness, drowsiness;
• pallor of the skin;
• headache, dizziness;
• muscle and joint pain;
• chills, increased body temperature;
• lack of appetite;
• intense nausea, repeated vomiting;
• plentiful liquid fetid stools more often 10-15 times a day;
• pains of a spastic nature in the epigastrium and in the umbilical region.

Symptoms of the disease of moderate and severe degree persist up to 6-7 days. Due to the high likelihood of dehydration, special therapy is required.

Source: depositphotos.com

First aid for sea water poisoning

Since it is not possible to independently differentiate a viral infection and a digestive upset resulting from the ingestion of uninfected sea water, in any case, a number of general urgent measures must be taken:

1. Gastric lavage with 1-1.5 liters of warm water or a light pink solution of potassium permanganate, for which it is necessary to drink liquid and, by pressing on the root of the tongue, provoke an emetic urge.
2. Reception of enterosorbent (Activated carbon, Enterosgel, Polyphepan, Polysorb).
3. Replenishment of fluid lost with diarrhea and vomiting (saline solutions (Rehydron, Hydrovit, Oralit) or salt-free (tea, water).

The volume of liquid for drinking a child: up to 2 years old - 50-100 ml, over 2 years old - 100-200 ml each after each bowel movement or vomiting. For an adult - 2-2.5 liters of liquid per day.

To prevent increased vomiting, it is necessary to water the child for 1-2 tsp. every 5-10 minutes.

When is medical attention required?

If these symptoms occur after swallowing water, it is imperative to seek medical attention.

Treatment consists in restoring the water-salt balance, maintaining the basic life-support systems, antibiotic therapy is prescribed for the infectious process.

Possible consequences

1. Dehydration.
2. Reactive inflammation of the pancreas, liver tissue, bile ducts.
3. Convulsive syndrome at the height of fever (especially in children).
4. Irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, gastritis.

Prevention

To prevent infection with viruses or gastrointestinal upset, the sea water must be kept out of the water.

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Olesya Smolnyakova Therapy, clinical pharmacology and pharmacotherapy About the author

Education: higher, 2004 (GOU VPO "Kursk State Medical University"), specialty "General Medicine", qualification "Doctor". 2008-2012 - Postgraduate student of the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, KSMU, Candidate of Medical Sciences (2013, specialty "Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology"). 2014-2015 - professional retraining, specialty "Management in education", FSBEI HPE "KSU".

The information is generalized and provided for informational purposes only. At the first sign of illness, see your doctor. Self-medication is hazardous to health!