What is the best treatment for a patient exposed to an absorbed poison?

The best treatment for a patient exposed to an absorbed poison is to remove the poison from the skin. This is crucial because absorbed poisons can enter the bloodstream through the skin, leading to systemic toxicity. Immediate and thorough decontamination minimizes further absorption and reduces the risk of serious adverse effects.

When managing a patient who has come into contact with harmful substances, the first step is often to ensure that the poison is no longer in contact with the skin. This typically involves rinsing the area with copious amounts of water and using soap if appropriate. Promptly removing the substance can significantly reduce the overall dose the patient is exposed to and thus lower the potential for complications.

Other treatments, such as administering activated charcoal, may be beneficial for ingested poisons but are not appropriate for absorbed poisons since the poison has already entered the body’s dermal layers, and charcoal is ineffective in these cases. Inducing vomiting is also not advisable for substances that have been absorbed through the skin, and intravenous fluids, while they may be useful for hydration or support, do not address the core issue of the absorption directly.