A child is brought to the emergency department in a coma. The mother thinks the child may have ingested a poison. The nurse will assess:

Question

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Ingestion of a poison can lead to various physical signs and symptoms. Burns around the mouth can indicate ingestion of a caustic substance. The child's breath might have a specific odor indicating the type of poison ingested. Examining the vomitus can provide clues about the poison, and blood and urine toxicology screens are essential for identifying the specific toxin(s) involved. Hair samples are not typically assessed in acute poisoning cases.

A Child Is Brought to the Emergency Department in a Coma