Carbon Monoxide Headquarters
CO Support: Survey Study of Chronic CO Poisoning
More on Symptoms:
As an average, symptoms such as headache and dizziness were experienced for almost 2 years prior to CO being identified as the problem.
In many cases, the symptoms persisted for 2-3 years after poisoning ceased - some are still continuing.
During exposure, the most common symptoms were tiredness, headache, pains & cramps, and nausea/sickness.
In the chronic group of victims, symptoms included lack of concentration, cardiac problems, flu-type symptoms, difficulty breathing, cramps, memory problems, personality changes, clumsiness and depression.
In the victims who had experienced unconsciousness, the fraction with each symptom during the period of exposure was somewhat higher.
Only 4 of the symptoms (nausea and sickness, hallucinations, flu symptoms and digestive problems) showed improvement with time.
There was only a slight improvement in the incidence of symptoms after CO was eliminated.
Memory loss as a problem increased after CO exposure ceased.
Neck and back pain and deep muscle pain have remained the most persistent problems.
The incidence of pain among victims who had been unconscious was even greater than for the chronically exposed group.
Over 70% of both the unconscious group and the chronic group continue to suffer from some degree of pain.
Over 45% of the chronic victims were unable to work an average of 4 years after CO poisoning ceased. 75% of those rendered unconscious were unable to work an average of 2-1/2 years after CO poisoning ceased. Household income fell by 1/2 in the unconscious victims and by 20% in the chronic victims.
...... last changed 03/17/02
to Next Page
Back to CO Support Index