Activated charcoal should be administered to patients who have ingested poison via which route?

Administering activated charcoal is appropriate for patients who have ingested poison through the mouth because the charcoal works by adsorbing the toxins in the gastrointestinal tract, preventing them from being absorbed into the bloodstream. When the poison is ingested orally, the activated charcoal can bind to the substances in the stomach and intestines, allowing for the potential of the toxins to be excreted rather than absorbed.

In cases where poison enters the bloodstream directly, such as through intravenous routes, activated charcoal is ineffective since it cannot access the bloodstream to adsorb the toxins. Similarly, poisons inhaled into the lungs or absorbed through the skin bypass the gastrointestinal system entirely, making activated charcoal unsuitable for those routes of exposure as well. Therefore, the oral route is the only method where activated charcoal plays a vital role in the poisoning response.