What are Sign and symptoms of oxygen toxicity?

Oxygen toxicity refers to the adverse effects that can occur when breathing excessive levels of oxygen. While oxygen is essential for life and is required for normal physiological processes, breathing high concentrations of oxygen can cause a range of signs and symptoms, including:

1. Central Nervous System (CNS) Effects:

- Pulmonary Oxygen Toxicity: High oxygen levels can cause damage to the delicate tissues of the lungs, leading to fluid buildup, inflammation, and reduced lung function.

- Retinal Detachment: Prolonged exposure to high oxygen concentrations, particularly in premature infants, can lead to abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina and potentially cause retinal detachment.

4. Other Symptoms:

- Nausea and Vomiting: Some individuals may experience nausea and vomiting as a result of oxygen toxicity.

- Muscle Twitching: Oxygen toxicity can cause muscle twitching or tremors, especially in the face and extremities.

- Seizures: In severe cases, oxygen toxicity can lead to seizures.

- Hearing Impairments: Prolonged exposure to high oxygen levels has been associated with hearing loss, particularly in infants and young children.

It's important to note that the risk of oxygen toxicity is typically associated with breathing pure oxygen or high oxygen concentrations (above 50%) over extended periods. Medical settings and oxygen therapy devices are designed with safeguards to prevent or minimize oxygen toxicity. Therefore, oxygen toxicity is more likely to occur in specific scenarios, such as diving accidents or improper use of oxygen therapy.