A term applied to forms of blood-poisoning due to the absorption of bacterial products (TOXINS) formed at some local site of infection, such as an ABSCESS. In other cases the toxaemia is due to defective action of some excretory organ, such as the kidney (see KIDNEYS). As regards treatment, the most important consideration is to remove the source of infection.

Toxaemia of pregnancy is a term sometimes used to describe the two complications of pregnancy known as PRE-ECLAMPSIA and ECLAMPSIA (PREGNANCY AND LABOUR).