CO Exposure: Symptoms, Diagnosis, What to Do

CO is colorless and odorless; symptoms often mimic the flu or migraine, leading to missed diagnoses. Timely medical care and careful documentation protect your health and your claim. If you suspect CO, act immediately—then preserve the scene so experts can determine the source.

Common Symptoms

CO symptoms evolve and can wax and wane—track them and seek care promptly.

• Early: headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue
• Neurologic/cognitive: confusion, memory problems, slowed thinking, word‑finding issues, light/noise sensitivity
• Visual/vestibular: blurred vision, double vision, imbalance
• Cardiorespiratory: chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations
• Severe: fainting, seizures, loss of consciousness; risk of delayed neurologic sequelae days to weeks later

Diagnosis

Doctors rely on history, targeted testing, and timing; CO levels drop quickly with fresh air or oxygen.

• Exposure history plus clinical exam; ask about fuel‑burning appliances, garages, and recent alarms
• Carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) testing—levels fall quickly with fresh air/oxygen, so timing is crucial
• Cardiac evaluation (ECG, enzymes) in moderate/severe exposures
• Neurological assessment; neuropsych testing to quantify cognitive effects
• Imaging when indicated (MRI; DWI/DTI in select cases); follow‑up for delayed effects
• Consider co‑exposures (smoke, cyanide) in fire‑related events

Treatment and Recovery

Rehabilitation should be customized to your symptoms and updated as you heal.

• Oxygen therapy per medical guidance; monitor for cardiac injury
• Follow‑up with neurology, cardiology, and PM&R as needed
• Vestibular/vision therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, and gradual return‑to‑activity plans
• Mental health support for anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance
• Workplace/school accommodations; periodic re‑evaluation as symptoms evolve