Reasonable Hypothesis SOP [1] | 49 of 2019 |
Balance of Probabilities SOP [2] | 50 of 2019 |
SOP Bulletin 208 [3]
This SOP covers toxic effects from the ingestion of plants, fungi, or food/other substances that contain a plant or fungal toxin. It doesn't cover inflammation of the skin or eye from contact with a plant or fungal toxin, nor food allergies, nor a number of other specified conditions (see below).
The diagnosis may be made on clinical grounds in some cases, where others will require blood or urine testing for confirmation.
The relevant medical specialist is a clinical toxicologist.
Poisoning will generally manifest as an acute illness a short time (from immediately to within 2 weeks) after exposure to the toxin. For some poisons there can be a delayed reaction with hepatoxicity (liver), nephrotoxicity (kidneys), neurotoxicity (brain) or thyrotoxicity (thyroid gland) occurring up to two years after poison ingestion.
The only SOP worsening factor is for inability to obtain appropriate clinical management. Some plant and fungal poisonings can result in serious illness or death. Appropriate, timely treatment may limit tissue or organ damage and improve the prognosis.
Links
[1] http://www.rma.gov.au/assets/SOP/2019/049.pdf
[2] http://www.rma.gov.au/assets/SOP/2019/050.pdf
[3] https://clik.dva.gov.au/system/files/media/SOP%20Bulletin%20208.pdf