Poisoning is defined as:

• A. Caused by swallowing, injecting, breathing in, or otherwise being exposed to a harmful substance.
• B. A temporary loss of consciousness due to sleep.
• C. A severe allergic reaction.
• D. An injury from a fall.

Answer: (A)

Poisoning happens when someone is harmed by exposure to a toxic substance, through any route the body takes in: swallowing, injecting, breathing in, or contact with the skin or eyes. The statement that describes exposure to a harmful substance via those routes matches this broad definition, which is why it’s the best choice.

The other scenarios aren’t about exposure to toxins. A temporary loss of consciousness due to sleep is simply a sleep-related event, not poisoning. A severe allergic reaction is anaphylaxis, a different reaction pattern involving immune and airway issues. An injury from a fall is trauma. In practice, recognizing poisoning hinges on knowing there’s exposure to a substance and looking for related symptoms like altered mental status, vomiting, or breathing difficulties, and asking about what was involved.