Asphyxia
Arises when one is not able to inhale or exhale air. The body does not receive sufficient oxygen and there is accumulation of carbon dioxide in the blood causing unconsciousness, death or suffocation
Causes of asphyxia
Occlusion or obstruction of the upper respiratory tract.
This may be due to:
1. Strangulation
2. Smothering with a pillow
3. Impaction of foreign body such as bone in the throat or a piece of food inhaled into the larynx or trachea
4. Pressure on the chest e.g. by fallen masonry
5. Drowning
6. A complication of another condition such as swelling due to burning of the mouth and throat
Paralysis of the muscles of respiration
Can be due to:
1. Electric shock
2. Being struck by lightening
3. Poisons e.g. strychnine and morphine
4. Diseases such as poliomyelitis
Effects of certain gases
Include CO, ammonia and chlorine
Breathing in smoke
If someone has been trapped in a burning building
Signs and symptoms of asphyxia
1. Difficulty in breathing, restlessness and agitation
2. The patient begins to struggle trying to remove the obstruction
3. Coughing and spluttering
4. Cyanosis occurs
5. If the patient struggles to overcome the asphyxiation, the face becomes congested with blood, neck veins become distended and the pupils dilate
6. If the individual does not struggle and appears to go to sleep, suspect CO poisoning
Management of asphyxia
1. Remove the source of danger from the patient. For example, a pillow from the face and a bone from the throat. Or remove the patient from the source of danger such as smoke or gas filled room or take the patient out of the water in case of drowning.
2. Undo tight clothing round neck, chest and waist.
Causes of asphyxia
Occlusion or obstruction of the upper respiratory tract.
This may be due to:
1. Strangulation
2. Smothering with a pillow
3. Impaction of foreign body such as bone in the throat or a piece of food inhaled into the larynx or trachea
4. Pressure on the chest e.g. by fallen masonry
5. Drowning
6. A complication of another condition such as swelling due to burning of the mouth and throat
Paralysis of the muscles of respiration
Can be due to:
1. Electric shock
2. Being struck by lightening
3. Poisons e.g. strychnine and morphine
4. Diseases such as poliomyelitis
Effects of certain gases
Include CO, ammonia and chlorine
Breathing in smoke
If someone has been trapped in a burning building
Signs and symptoms of asphyxia
1. Difficulty in breathing, restlessness and agitation
2. The patient begins to struggle trying to remove the obstruction
3. Coughing and spluttering
4. Cyanosis occurs
5. If the patient struggles to overcome the asphyxiation, the face becomes congested with blood, neck veins become distended and the pupils dilate
6. If the individual does not struggle and appears to go to sleep, suspect CO poisoning
Management of asphyxia
1. Remove the source of danger from the patient. For example, a pillow from the face and a bone from the throat. Or remove the patient from the source of danger such as smoke or gas filled room or take the patient out of the water in case of drowning.
2. Undo tight clothing round neck, chest and waist.
3. Clear the mouth of any obstruction such as vomit as far as possible
4. If breathing and pulsation have ceased start CPR
5.In cold weather, keep the person reasonably warm.
