INTEREST OF EARLY TOXICOLOGICAL SAMPLING DURING ALPHA CHLORALOSE IN TOXICATION, A CASE REPORT

Alphachloralosis intoxication isverycommon and constitutes a real public healthproblem. Diagnosisisdifficultbecause of itsaspecificsymptoms, whichmayerroneously point to other pathologies, hence the importance of good questioning.The clinicalpictureis suggestive of disturbedconsciousness, myoclonus, sharposteotendinous reflexes with changes in pupillarydiameter, hypersialorrhoea and bronchial hypersecretion. A definitivediagnosisisbased on the detection of alphachloralose in gastricfluid, urine and blood. Toxicological samples must betaken as soon as possible after ingestion, otherwisetheywillbenegative. Progress isusuallyfavourable, and the severity of intoxication depends on the dose ingested. Treatmentismainlysymptomatic and isbased on evacuation of the toxic substance, protection of the airways and control of myoclonus .