systemic poison

A poison is any substance that can cause illness or death when ingested, inhaled, absorbed, or injected, even in small quantities. Poisons can be natural or synthetic and cause damage to living tissues by disrupting normal cell structure or function.12

Types of Toxic Responses

Toxic responses can be:
* Local: Occurring at the site of contact, such as burns from strong acids or bases.3
* Systemic: Affecting tissues or organs other than the point of entry. For example, methanol is absorbed and converted to formic acid, which can damage the optic nerve.3

Factors Influencing Poisoning

Several factors determine the effect of a poison:
* Toxicity: The inherent harmfulness of a substance.1
* Mechanism of Action: How and where the poison affects cells.1
* Elimination Rate: How quickly the body can remove the substance.1
* Route of Entry: How the poison enters the body (ingestion, inhalation, etc.).1
* Host Condition: Factors like age, immunity, and nutritional state of the individual.1

Some antiseptics, like hexachlorophene, can cause systemic toxicity, particularly in infants due to their permeable skin. Common inorganic poisons include cyanide, mercury, arsenic, and lead, which can accumulate in the body and cause significant damage.41