poison control center


center

 [sen´ter] 1. a point from which a process starts, especially a plexus or ganglion giving off nerves that control a function.2. nerve center.3. an agency or other site where services are offered to the public.accelerating center the vasomotor center in the brainstem involved in acceleration of heart action.apneustic center a nerve center in the brainstem controlling normal respiration.Broca's center Broca's motor speech area.cardioinhibitory center a vasomotor center in the medulla oblongata that exerts an inhibitory influence on the heart.cardiovascular control c's vasomotor centers.community mental health center (CMHC) a mental health facility or group of affiliated agencies that provide services to a designated catchment area.coughing center a nerve center in the medulla oblongata, situated above the respiratory center, which controls the act of coughing.deglutition center a nerve center in the medulla oblongata that controls swallowing.detente center a residential care center of the kinlein type, using the esca theory of moving as the basis for the staff's actions to maintain the independence of residents who are experiencing lessened physical or mental capacity.C's for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services whose headquarters is in Atlanta, Georgia. It is concerned with all phases of control of communicable, vector-borne, and occupational diseases and with the prevention of disease, injury, and disability. Its responsibilities include epidemiology, surveillance, detection, laboratory science, ecological investigations, training, disease control methods, chronic disease prevention, health promotion, and injury prevention and control. Its major tasks include the licensing of qualified clinical laboratories for interstate commerce, maintenance of laboratories as reference centers for microorganisms and infectious diseases, and operation of extensive research programs in the prevention, detection and control of disease. The CDC's name has changed several times to reflect its expanding role; it has been called the Communicable Disease Center (1946), the Center for Disease Control (1970), and the Centers for Disease Control (1980). The latest name change, enacted by Congress in 1992, reflects the expansion of the scope of the CDC's mission to include health promotion and education. Because of the widespread recognition of the acronym CDC, that acronym continues to be used by the agency. The mailing address of the CDC is Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, and the website is http://www.cdc.gov.ejaculation center a reflex center in the lumbar spinal cord that regulates ejaculation of semen during sexual stimulation.erection center a reflex center in the sacral spinal cord that regulates erection of the penis or clitoris. Called also genital center.feeding center a group of cells in the lateral hypothalamus that when stimulated cause a sensation of hunger; called also hunger center.genital center erection center.germinal center the area in the center of a lymph node containing aggregations of actively proliferating lymphocytes.health center 1. a community health organization providing ambulatory health care and referrals to appropriate service agencies, and coordinating the efforts of all health agencies.2. an educational complex consisting of a medical college, nursing college, and various allied health professional schools.heat-regulating c's thermoregulatory centers.hunger center feeding center.medullary respiratory center the nerve center in the medulla oblongata that coordinates respiratory movements.micturition c's a nerve center controlling the bladder and inhibiting the tension of the vesical sphincter, situated in the lumbar enlargement.nerve center a collection of nerve cells in the central nervous system that are associated together in the performance of some particular function, such as a area" >primary area or an area" >association area.nursing center a site where public health or primary care services, including patient education, assessment, and screening and preventive services are provided and managed by registered nurses.center of ossification any point in bones at which ossification begins.pneumotaxic center a nerve center in the upper pons that rhythmically inhibits inhalation.poison center (poison control center) see poison control center.rectovesical center a reflex center in the spinal cord that regulates the rectum and bladder.reflex center any nerve center at which afferent sensory impressions are converted into efferent motor impulses.respiratory c's a series of nerve centers (the apneustic, pneumotaxic, and medullary respiratory centers) in the medulla and pons that coordinate respiratory movements.satiety center a group of cells in the ventromedial hypothalamus that when stimulated suppress the desire for food.senior center a program supported by Title XX funding, providing recreational activities and lunch for a small fee for older adults in need of socialization. Health assessments and education may also be provided.sudorific center 1. a nerve center in the anterior hypothalamus controlling sweating.2. any of several nerve centers in the medulla oblongata or spinal cord that exercise parasympathetic control over sweating. Called also sweat center.swallowing center deglutition center.sweat center sudorific center.thermoregulatory c's nerve centers in the hypothalamus that regulate the conservation and dissipation of heat.thirst center a group of cells in the lateral hypothalamus that when stimulated cause a sensation of thirst.trauma center an institution officially designated as a site to which catastrophically injured patients can be brought quickly to receive specialized care. Trauma centers are classified as Level I, II, or III according to criteria developed by the Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons, with Level I facilities having the equipment and personnel necessary to care for the most seriously injured patients.vasoconstrictor center a nerve center in the medulla oblongata and lower pons that controls contraction of the blood vessels.vasodilator center a nerve center in the medulla oblongata that causes dilation of blood vessels by repressing the activity of the vasoconstrictor center.vasomotor c's nerve centers in the medulla oblongata and the lower pons that regulate the caliber of the blood vessels and increase or decrease the heart rate and contractility. See also vasoconstrictor c. and vasodilator c. Called also cardiovascular control c's.vomiting center a center in the lower central region of the medulla oblongata; its stimulation causes vomiting.word center, auditory Wernicke's area.

poison

 [poi´zun] a substance that, on ingestion, inhalation, absorption, application, injection, or development within the body, in relatively small amounts, may cause structural or functional disturbance. Called also toxin and venom. adj., adj poisonous.
Corrosives are poisons that destroy tissues directly. They include the mineral acids, such as nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and hydrochloric acid; the caustic alkalis, such as ammonia, sodium hydroxide (lye), sodium carbonate, and sodium hypochlorite; and carbolic acid (phenol). Irritants are poisons that inflame the mucous membranes by direct action. These include arsenic, copper sulfate, salts of lead, zinc, and phosphorus, and many others. neurotoxins" >neurotoxins or nerve toxins act on the nerves or affect some of the basic cell processes. This large group includes the narcotics, such as opium, heroin, and cocaine, and the barbiturates, anesthetics, and alcohols. hemotoxins" >hemotoxins or blood toxins act on the blood and deprive it of oxygen. They include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrocyanic acid, and the gases used in chemical warfare. Some blood toxins destroy the blood cells or the platelets. See also poisoning and names of individual poisons.poison ivy, oak, and sumac common plants of the genus Rhus that cause allergic skin reactions. The poison contained in their leaves, roots, and berries is an oily substance called urushiol. It has no effect on some people; in others, momentary or even indirect contact may cause itching and even painful rashes, blisters, and swelling; see Rhusdermatitis.Poison Ivy. Poison ivy (Rhus radicans) grows in the form of climbing vines, shrubs that trail on the ground, and shrubbery that grows upright without any support. The vine clings to stone and brick houses and climbs trees and poles. It flourishes abundantly along fences, paths, and roadways, and is often partly hidden by other foliage.Recognition. The poison ivy plant is attractive and is often picked as a decoration by unsuspecting flower gatherers. Although poison ivy comes in many forms and displays seasonal changes, it has one constant characteristic: The leaves always grow in clusters of three, one at the end of the stalk, the other two opposite one another.Transmission. The plant is particularly potent in the spring and early summer when it is full of oily resinous sap. This forms an invisible film upon the human skin on contact. Direct contact is not always necessary. Some cases of poison ivy dermatitis are caused by the handling of clothing or garden implements that have been contaminated by the sap, sometimes months earlier; dogs and cats may carry it on their fur. Many people are so sensitive that smoke from a brush fire containing poison ivy brings on a rash.Symptoms. After exposure, the symptoms of poison ivy dermatitis may develop in a matter of hours, though sometimes they do not appear for several days. There is reddening on the hands, neck, face, legs, or whatever parts of the body have been exposed, with considerable itching. Small blisters form which later become larger and eventually exude a watery fluid. The skin then becomes crusty and dry. After a few weeks all symptoms spontaneously disappear.Treatment. An attack of poison ivy dermatitis can sometimes be avoided if the skin is washed immediately after contact. The skin should be lathered several times and rinsed each time in running water. This may remove all or at least part of the poison ivy film before it is able to penetrate the skin. If, despite precautions, dermatitis does develop, various treatments may relieve the itching. An old standard remedy is calamine lotion. If the inflammation becomes unusually severe or is accompanied by fever, a health care provider should be consulted. A cortisone preparation may be prescribed, which can be taken orally, injected, or applied locally as a cream.Poison Oak. Poison oak (Rhus diversiloba or R. toxicodendron), sometimes known as oakleaf ivy, is related to poison ivy and not to the oak tree; its eastern and western varieties resemble each other closely. It is usually a low-growing shrub and seldom a climbing vine. It has three leaves, like poison ivy, but they are lobed and bear a slight resemblance to small oak leaves. Its berries are white and small, like those of poison ivy. Poison oak causes the same symptoms as poison ivy. Prevention and treatment are the same as for poison ivy.Poison Sumac. Although poison sumac (Rhus vernix) goes by other names, such as swamp sumac, poison elder, poison ash, poison dogwood, and thunderwood, there is only one variety of it. Sometimes, however, poison sumac is confused with the several harmless kinds of sumac. Poison sumac is a coarse woody shrub or small tree, and it has white berries, distinguishing it from the harmless varieties of sumac, which have red berries. Symptoms and treatment are the same as for poison ivy.poison center (poison control center) a telephone service with toxicology experts providing emergency treatment advice for all kinds of poisonings, 24 hours a day. Poison control centers also provide poison prevention information to the community and education about recognition and treatment of poison exposures for health care providers. By gathering data about the outcomes of poison exposures, they also identify new or unexpected toxic hazards, allowing for product recalls, reformulations, or repackaging. Their staffs include physicians, nurses, and pharmacists with training in toxicology. There are more than 500 poison control centers in the United States; 65 of them are officially certified and are members of the American Association of Poison Control Centers. All of these provide 24-hour service and can be reached by calling 1-800-222-1222. See the Appendix of Poison Control Centers, which lists the certified ones.

poison control center

Toxicology A nonprofit facility, often affiliated with a university or hospital, that provides emergency toxicology assessments by telephone, and treatment recommendations, primarily to parents of children who swallowed a household product, but also to physicians and hospitals. See Hotline.

poi·son con·trol cen·ter

(poyzŏn kŏn-trōl sentĕr) A facility staffed 24 hours a day to answer calls about people exposed to substances that might be harmful.