Symptoms of Rat Poisoning
Rat poison contains a variety of ingredients that work together to kill rodents; however, these substances are also lethal to humans if ingested. The amount of time it takes for symptoms to appear depends upon the amount of rat poison ingested and the number of days it is ingested. It is important to note that symptoms of rat poisoning may occur even when a person hasn’t ingested rat poison. This is because warfarin, a component of rat poison, is also used in medicine as a blood thinner.
Bleeding
When rat poison is ingested, sudden nose bleeds that are difficult to control may occur 2. Additionally, the person may bruise easily and cuts may take longer than normal to clot. Even normal contact with everyday items may cause a bruise. Women may notice bruising under bra straps. Bruising may be noticed near waistbands, watches or rings.
- When rat poison is ingested, sudden nose bleeds that are difficult to control may occur 2.
- Even normal contact with everyday items may cause a bruise.
Gastrointestinal Symptoms
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Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are all symptoms of rat poisoning. In some cases, the diarrhea may be blood-streaked. Abdominal cramping and indigestion are also possible. These symptoms may appear suddenly if a large amount of rat poison is ingested; however, if only a small amount of rat poison is ingested daily, gastrointestinal symptoms may appear gradually over a period of days.
- Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are all symptoms of rat poisoning.
Other Symptoms
Less-common symptoms of rat poisoning include:
- hair loss
- fever
- seizures
- nerve damage
- lethargy
- restlessness
- chills
- dementia
- nasal complications
Any of these symptoms warrants a trip to the emergency room.
Related Articles
References
- National Pesticide Information Center
- Iowa Statewide Poison Control Center
- King N, Tran MH. Long-acting anticoagulant rodenticide (superwarfarin) poisoning: a review of its historical development, epidemiology, and clinical management. Transfus Med Rev. 2015;29(4):250-8. doi:/10.1016/j.tmrv.2015.06.002
- Roberts JR, Reigart JR. Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisonings. Sixth Edition. The United States Environmental Protection Agency. 2013.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Pesticide exposures. Updated April 12, 2019.
Writer Bio
Casey Holley is a medical writer who began working in the health and fitness industries in 1995, while still in high school. She has worked as a nutrition consultant and has written numerous health and wellness articles for various online publications. She has also served in the Navy and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in health administration from the University of Phoenix.