Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Poisons”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 865 records · Page 48Linked to original sources
PubMed1972

[Effectiveness of boric acid as a stomach poison for the German cockroach (Blattella germanica L.) Control]

The author carried out a study on the effectiveness of the boric acid as a stomach poison for German cockroach control from July to September 1971. The test was performed by the feeding method under conditions of 20 degrees C and 80 per cent relative humidity. The baits were composed of one control group and five different combination groups with boric acid and sugar as follows. 1)10 g sugar only(control group), 2)1 g powedered boric acid to 9 g sugar(1:9 poison baits), 3)2 g powdered boric acid to 8 g sugar(2:8 poison baits), 4)4 g powdered boric acid to 6 g sugar(4:6 poison baits), 5)5 g powdered boric acid to 5g sugar(5:5 poison baits), 6)10 g powdered boric acid only (10:0 poison baits). The insects were composed of 360 female adult German cockroaches collected by traps at the kitchens of restaurants and house holds in Seoul City. The results were as follows: 1.The total mortality by poison baits in 72 hours after treatment were: 1)44.3 % by 1:9 poison baits, 2)79.4 % by 2: poison baits, 3)96.7 % by 4:6 poison baits(the most effective poison baits), 4)88.3 % by 5:5 poison baits, 5)91.1 % by 10:0 poison baits. 2.The peak mortality by the treatment hours were: 1)Up to 21 hours: 23.3 % by 5:5 poison baits, 20.0 % by 10:10 poison baits, 2)From 24 to 48 hours: 71.1 % by 4:6 poison baits, 55.6 % by 10:0 poison baits, 3)From 48 to 72 hours: 21.9 % by 2:8 poison baits, 19.6 % by 1:9 poison baits. The most effective treatment hours was from 24 to 48 hours.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Acute poisoning in children.

BACKGROUND: Childhood poisoning continues to challenge the diagnostic and treatment skills of the pediatrician. Generally, childhood poisoning can be attributed to suboptimal parental supervision and accessibility of products with poisoning potential. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pattern of acute poisoning in children with relation to different age groupings. METHODS: Pediatric patients hospitalized for acute poisoning at the Soroka Medical Center over a 5 year period (1994-98) were evaluated retrospectively. Special attention was given to poisoning in relation to age groupings. RESULTS: During the years 1994-98 a total of 1,143 children were admitted for acute poisoning to the Soroka Medical Center. The majority of cases occurred in children aged 2-5 and 14-18 years. Males under 14 had a higher frequency of poisoning, the poisoning usually being unintentional, whereas poisoning in females occurred mostly in the 14-18 age group and was intentional. Drugs were the most common agent of poisoning in infants (0-1 year), in older children (10-13 years), and in adolescents (14-18 years), while in children aged 2-5 and 6-9 years either cleaning products or drugs were the usual agents of poisoning. Most poisonings in children aged 2-13 occurred between 4 and 8 p.m., and for most adolescent patients (14-18 years old) between 4 p.m. and midnight. Poisoning in children aged 2-13 were usually due to accessible home products, and to medicinal errors such as overdose and improper drug administration. CONCLUSIONS: This study defines the characteristic pattern of pediatric poisoning with respect to different age groups and gender. Unintentional childhood poisoning predominated in males and occurred mostly because of accessible home products and suboptimal parental supervision during critical hours of the day. Most adolescent poisoning occurred in females and was intentional. Parental education and intensified child supervision are indicated measures of prevention for unintentional poisoning.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

Costs of poison-related hospitalizations at an urban teaching hospital for children.

BACKGROUND: Childhood poisonings continue to exact a notable toll in injury-related morbidity and economic cost. Because a substantial portion of this morbidity and economic cost is associated with hospitalization, an analysis of the cost of poisoning hospitalizations might help to identify areas in which medical care could be improved and costs could be reduced. OBJECTIVE: To assess the aggregate cost of poison-related hospitalizations and to analyze the trends in categorical poisoning costs during a 4-year period. DESIGN: Cost-benefit analysis of charge data and length of stay (LOS) for poison-related hospitalizations. SETTING: Admissions to one urban children's hospital. PATIENTS: Case mix data were reviewed to identify those children whose hospitalizations had a primary discharge diagnosis related to poisoning in fiscal years 1992 to 1995. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mean aggregate hospital charges and LOS for poisonings were compared for each of the 4 years of the study. Comparisons were also made with charges and LOS for hospitalizations for all other diagnoses during the same period. Trends in hospital charges and LOS for the most common specific types of poisoning were analyzed individually. Linear regression statistics were used to compare the costs and LOS of specific types of poisoning. RESULTS: There were 638 poison-related hospitalizations during the 4-year study (0.9% of all pediatric hospital admissions). Charges per case decreased from $7934 in fiscal year 1992 to $4968 in fiscal year 1995 (z = -2.74, P = .006); mean LOS decreased from 5.85 days in 1992 to 3.45 days in 1995 (z = 2.84, P = .005). These trends exceeded smaller trends toward decreasing charges and LOS seen also for non-poison-related hospitalizations. Acetaminophen, lead, and antidepressant medications were the most common and most costly specific agents implicated in poison-related hospitalizations during the study period. Linear regression analysis showed a significant decrease in charges (F = 6.35, R2 = 0.09, P = .014) and LOS for acetaminophen (F = 4.30, R2 = 0.063, P < .04) but not for lead or antidepressant poison-related hospitalizations. CONCLUSIONS: Despite an increasing number of children hospitalized for poisoning at one institution during a 4-year period, per case hospital charges decreased substantially. The cost savings were associated with a marked decrease in LOS. Still, poison-related admissions to a single pediatric facility accounted for almost $1 million in hospital charges in fiscal year 1995. A few agents are overrepresented; new poisoning prevention measures aimed at these toxic agents are warranted. We conclude that further outcomes studies are needed to delineate cost-effective improvements in patient care targeted toward poisonings owing to those agents.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Trends of acute poisoning in south Karnataka.

BACKGROUND: In recent times poisoning with agricultural chemicals either accidental or suicidal has become common due to easy availability and low cost. So it has become essential to find out the burden of poisoning to the victims, family and to hospital and morbidity and mortality among the victims. AIMS: To determine the trends of poisoning along with various parameters such as mode of poisoning, type of poison used, outcome of the poisoning, the most vulnerable age group, occupation of the victim, and the marital status. METHOD: A 5 year retrospective study in which all the patients of acute poisoning admitted to Govt. Wenlock Hospital, Mangalore during the period from 1st Jan 1999 to 31st December 2003 were included. A total of 546 cases were admitted due to acute poisoning during the study period. RESULTS: Three hundred and eighty (69.6%) males and one hundred and sixty six (30.4%) females were admitted to the hospital due to poisoning. Organophosphates were the most commonly used suicidal poison irrespective of age, sex and occupation of the victim. There were two hundred and thirty five cases of male suicidal poisoning and one hundred and twenty six female cases of suicidal poisoning. Majority of poisoning cases were seen in manual labourers. The increasing trend of poisoning was observed for the period of 1999 to 2003 except for the year of 2003. CONCLUSION: The study highlights about the problem of poisoning in the region. Since the majority of the victims of the poisoning are from low socio economic status. There is economic burden on the family members of the victim of poisoning as the earning member of the family becomes ill (for treatment), dies (loss of earning member) and also emotional setback and disturbance.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Epidemiology of hydrogen phosphide exposures in humans reported to the poison center in Mainz, Germany, 1983-2003.

BACKGROUND: Poisonings with rodenticides containing hydrogen phosphide-releasing compounds may lead to deleterious organ dysfunction and death. Since data of hydrogen phosphide poisonings is limited to case reports/series, this study was intended to elucidate hydrogen phosphide poisonings based on a 20-year data collection. METHODS: Explorative data analysis of the Poison Center Mainz database looking for route of exposure, symptoms, and severity using the Poisoning Severity Score. RESULTS: From 1983-2003, 188 hydrogen phosphide poisonings were reported. Sixty-five percent of these were unintentional residential, 28% attempts to commit suicide (intentional), 5% occupational, and 2% undetermined. In the majority of intentional poisonings the poison was ingested, whereas in unintentional poisoning of adults inhalation exposure dominated, caused by inappropriate self-protection from the released hydrogen phosphide gas during usage. Frequently observed symptoms in unintentional poisonings were nausea, vomiting, pain, coughing, and dizziness with no further worsening of symptoms. In intentional poisonings frequent symptoms were vomiting, somnolence, seizures, coma, and shock with two initially fatal poisonings. Follow-up on these cases showed a significant worsening of symptoms and a two-fold increase in fatal poisonings. CONCLUSION: Route of exposure, severity of symptoms, and the necessary treatment differs substantially between unintentional and intentional poisonings. In this study, two initially symptomatic intentional poisonings were later reported fatal. Careful monitoring is recommended in symptomatic intentional poisonings.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Estimates of acute pesticide poisoning in agricultural workers in less developed countries.

The benefits of crop protection products have to be balanced against the risks to farmers and other agricultural workers handling and applying them. The extent of acute pesticide poisoning in these workers, particularly in less developed countries, has often been based on inadequate information. A number of approaches have been taken by researchers to acquire information on pesticide poisoning. These have resulted in worldwide (global) estimates and regional, localised or field assessments. The methods include descriptive epidemiology, cross-sectional and case studies. Attempts to estimate global pesticide poisonings have often been based upon extrapolations and assumptions from chemical-related fatalities in a small number of countries; such estimates do not provide reliable data. Epidemiological studies, relying mainly on hospital and poison centre data, have been biased towards the more severe poisonings, whereas field studies indicate that occupational pesticide poisoning is associated with less severe and minor effects. Many reports do not adequately distinguish between intentional, accidental and occupational pesticide poisoning statistics or are dominated by cases of intentional (suicidal) poisoning which, by their nature, result in severe or fatal results. The majority of reports do not adequately describe whether individual cases are minor, moderate or severe poisonings. In order to assess information on acute pesticide poisoning in agricultural workers in less developed countries and to draw conclusions on the extent and severity of occupational poisoning, the most recent (post-1990) literature was reviewed. Data were also derived from the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Labour Office (ILO). The collected information was analysed to assess the extent and severity of occupational acute pesticide poisoning in less developed countries. Occupational acute pesticide poisonings in these countries are a small proportion of overall reported poisoning and are associated with the more minor effects of pesticides. They are a small proportion (<1-4%) of the several million cases of occupational injuries and ill health in agricultural workers worldwide. However, improvements are required for the collection of acute pesticide poisoning data in less developed countries and in the verification of the circumstances of poisonings and their relative severity. There is the need to move away from further attempts to estimate global data and concentrate instead on obtaining reliable data from realistic crop protection activities.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2005

Acute poisoning in old and very old patients: a longitudinal retrospective study of 5883 patients in a toxicological intensive care unit.

Although morbidity and mortality of acute poisoning are increased in elderly compared to younger patients, little has been published on this topics in the last years (Medline search). To investigate the influence of age on the clinical course of acute poisoning with different toxic agents, a longitudinal retrospective study at the Toxicological Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the 2nd Department of Internal Medicine (Klinikum Nürnberg, Germany) was performed.A total of 5883 patients treated at our toxicological ICU were enrolled into the study, including all patients of the years 1982, 1992, and 1997. These three years were selected to investigate possible time-dependent changes of intoxication characteristics and quality of therapy at our ICU over a time span of 15 years. For each patient the following data were obtained from a standardized toxicological record: age, gender, toxic agents responsible for acute poisoning, and length of stay at the toxicological ICU. For a subgroup of 3740 patients, the cause of acute poisoning and the clinical outcome was also recorded. As compared with younger patients, mean length of stay at the ICU, indicating a more serious course of acute poisoning, was prolonged in elderly and, i. e., in very old patients (p <0.001). However, this prolongation of time at the ICU was only observed in elderly patients poisoned with drugs or with mixed poisoning including drugs, while mean length of stay was not prolonged in elderly patients poisoned with alcohol, with illegal drugs, chemicals, animal/plant poison, or other toxic agents. Patients with the highest risk of dying in the ICU after acute poisoning were elderly patients attempting suicide with drugs. Mortality in 3740 patients with acute poisoning was 0.24%, while it was 2.17% in the 184 patients being 65 years old or older. Thus, mortality was 9-fold higher in the elderly. Mean length of stay at the ICU decreased significantly from 1982 to 1992 and to 1997 (p <0.001) indicating an improvement of the therapeutical ICU management of acute poisoning and/or less dangerous toxic agents (i. e. less barbiturates). The age-dependent increase of the length of stay at the ICU until very old age (> 80 years) was most pronounced in 1982 and also declined markedly until 1997.Age, suicide attempt, and ingestion of (multiple) drugs seem to be risk factors for a higher mortality and a prolonged stay in the ICU after acute poisoning. Although in general the clinical course after poisoning has more complications and an impaired prognosis in old age, each category of toxic agents (drugs, alcohol, chemicals, etc.) has its own special "risk profile" for elderly patients. However, due to advances in modern ICU medicine the general prognosis of acute poisoning is good in old and even in oldest old patients.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Poisoning-related visits to emergency departments in the United States, 1993-1996.

BACKGROUND: Poisoning continues to be an important public health problem in the US. In 1995, 2 million human poison exposures were reported to all poison centers in the US. Hospital emergency department data may be used to examine the most critical nonfatal poisoning exposures. METHODS: Data from the 1993-1996 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, which is a national probability sample survey of visits to emergency departments of nonFederal, short-stay, and general hospitals, were examined to describe poisoning-related emergency department visits in the US. RESULTS: During 1993-1996, the average annual number of emergency department visits was 93 million, of which 37 million were injury related and 1 million were poisoning related. Children under 5 years of age had a significantly higher average annual rate of poisoning-related visits (84 visits per 10,000 persons) than persons 5-19 years of age and persons 35 years of age and over. "Poisoning by other and unspecified drugs and medicinal substances" was the leading diagnosis and was recorded at 21% of all poisoning-related visits. Poisoning-related visits were more often recorded as urgent (75%) and were more likely to result in hospital admission (22%) compared to illness visits (45% and 17%, respectively) and nonpoisoning-related injury visits (47% and 6%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Poisoning-related injury visits comprise a small (1%), but important component of the health care provided in emergency departments. An examination of different definitions of poisoning revealed that for emergency department data, it is most appropriate to use the poisoning E-codes from the injury data framework developed by the injury control community. Data from emergency departments are needed to monitor any changing patterns of nonfatal poisonings and to provide guidance for effective poison prevention programs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Reliability of data sources for poisoning deaths in Massachusetts.

The authors analyzed poisoning-related deaths in Massachusetts from 1986 and 1987 recorded in three datasets: poison center records, death certificate, and state medical examiner's office records. While 714 such deaths were found, 551 of these were prehospital deaths recorded within the medical examiner's office but not by the poison center. The poison center was not consulted in over 47% of the poisoning deaths occurring in Massachusetts hospitals. Conversely, 15% of deaths were reported to the poison center but were not found either in death certificate or medical examiner records. Concordance between all three datasets for recording the 163 poisoning-related hospital deaths was only 17%. The authors conclude that reliance on a single data source underestimates and potentially misrepresents both the numbers and types of poisoning deaths occurring in the state. They also believe the files of the medical examiner are an underappreciated, rich source of data concerning out-of-hospital deaths due to poisonings and intoxications. Their findings suggest that the regional poison center is an underused resource for the management of seriously poisoned patients. There is a need for a better working relationship between poison centers and area hospitals so that all serious intoxications and poisonings are reported to the poison center in a timely fashion.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning↗
PubMed2004

Muscular strength and vibration thresholds during two years after acute poisoning with organophosphate insecticides.

AIMS: To evaluate the association of acute organophosphate (OP) poisoning with chronic sensory and motor neurological impairment. METHODS: This study concerns the third of a series of three examinations of hand strength and vibration thresholds in a two year period after acute OP poisoning among 48 Nicaraguan men. The first two examinations were performed at hospital discharge and seven weeks after poisoning, and the present examination two years later. Twenty eight cattle ranchers and fishermen who had never experienced pesticide poisoning were examined as controls, also three times over the two year period. The poisonings were categorised as caused by "non-neuropathic" OPs and "neuropathic" OPs, each subdivided in moderate and severe poisonings. RESULTS: Men poisoned with OP insecticides had persistent reduced hand strength. We previously reported weakness at hospital discharge for OP poisoned in all categories that worsened seven weeks later for those severely poisoned with neuropathic OPs. Strength improved over time, but the poisoned were still weaker than controls two years after the poisoning, most noticeably among the subjects most severely poisoned with neuropathic OPs. Also, index finger and toe vibration thresholds were slightly increased at the end of the two year period, among men with OP poisonings in all categories, but patterns of onset and evolvement of impairment of vibration sensitivity were less clear than with grip and pinch strength. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent, mainly motor, impairment of the peripheral nervous system was found in men two years after OP poisoning, in particular in severe occupational and intentional poisonings with neuropathic OPs. This finding is possibly due to remaining organophosphate induced delayed polyneuropathy.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2004

[Plasma endothelin levels in patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome caused by fish gall bladder poisoning].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between the change of plasma endothelin (ET) and the occurrence and progress of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) caused by fish gall bladder poisoning. METHODS: Plasma ET was measured in 85 patients with fish gall bladder poisoning and 30 healthy controls and comparison of the levels of plasma ET was carried out between patients groups with different severity of fish gall bladder poisoning. The relationship between plasma ET levels and enzymology as well as some biochemistry indexes in patients with fish gall bladder poisoning was then analyzed. RESULTS: Plasma ET in patients with fish gall bladder poisoning (150.5 +/- 90.5) ng/L was much higher than that in controls (52.8 +/- 9.3) ng/L. The concentration of plasma ET in slight poisoning group (61.2 +/- 13.6) ng/L increased a little, but it was not significantly different with that in controls (P > 0.05). The concentration of plasma ET was significantly higher in moderate poisoning group and severe poisoning group (162.3 +/- 82.3) ng/L and (232.6 +/- 92.7) ng/L as compared with that in the controls (P < 0.01), with the severe poisoning group much higher than the moderate poisoning group and the latter much higher than the normal. At the same time, plasma ET in MODS group and non-MODS group (210.2 +/- 98.7) ng/L and (126.3 +/- 68.3) ng/L were both notably higher than that in the controls. Furthermore plasma ET in the MODS group was much higher than that in the non-MODS (P < 0.01). It was also found that a positive correlation existed between plasma ET and creatine kinase-MB, cardiac troponin I, lactate dehydrogenase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine (P < 0.01) and a negative correlation between plasma ET and endogenous creatinine clearance rate (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Plasma ET may be involved in the process of fish gall ladder poisoning and later in the progress of MODS. It was shown that the higher the level of plasma ET, the severer the degree of poisoning and the higher the fatality rate. So monitoring plasma ET level dynamically may be an important clinical index in judging the patients condition and their prognosis in fish gall bladder poisoning. Simultaneously it is useful for earlier diagnosis of fish gall bladder poisoning and alertness of MODS caused by it as well as for proper management with antagonist and inhibitor against plasma ET for prevention and cure of fish gall bladder poisoning.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

New roles for poison control centres in the developing countries.

The primary mission of poison control centres has always been an improvement in the poisoned patients' care and poison prevention. The need to reach this mission implies that many functions and roles must be accomplished. Many centres, even in developing countries, are multifunctional and provide a broad toxicological information service. However, the main challenges of poison centres in developing countries are still treatment information, formal training, laboratory services accessibility and availability of antidotes. At the same time poison centres from developing countries need to accomplish their public health mission through strengthening and expansion of some well-defined roles like toxico-surveillance and environmental health monitoring according to the prevailing and future toxicological problems. Poison control centres from developing countries continue to face old challenges but cannot ignore the new ones that appear in the globalised world. Poison centres have a vital role for environmental exposure surveillance systems for sentinel event detection. Poison centres offer real-time and continuous data needed for preparation and response during such events and also offer a means to report health concerns. Centres from South America were involved in some of the most important environmental health problems of the region e.g., lead contamination (children), children 'occupational' poisoning, and flour contamination with fusarium toxins. Furthermore, poison centres can be the markers of risk factors or identifiers of vulnerable population e.g., changes in drugs prescription patterns, unusual patterns of addiction, unexpected product uses, children abuse scenarios or undetected sources of environmental contamination. In an era of evidence-based medicine and research, toxico-vigilance based on the millions of cases registered by poison centres everyday acquires more and more importance. A new approach of the toxico-vigilance and preventive roles of poison information centres lies in their ability to contribute to risk assessment methodologies with their human data. The data routinely collected by poisons centres could contribute to risk assessment documentation and to define priorities for risk assessment of the harmful chemicals. Although there is some scepticism about the value of poison centres data, the shared volume of human data could validate this information. The international effort of the IPCS/INTOX program, on harmonisation of data collection and terminology for comparable recording of observational human data, has been a great advancement towards handling this problem.

Child↗
PubMed1998

Retrospective study of the diagnostic criteria in a lead-poisoning survey of waterfowl.

Between 1983 and 1986 the National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) conducted a nationwide study of lead poisoning of waterfowl from federal and state refuges. This survey was done to assist in identifying zones with lead-poisoning problems. One thousand forty one moribund or dead waterfowl were collected and examined. The presence or absence of 13 gross lesions selected as indicators of lead poisoning and three lesions indicating body condition was recorded. Lead-poisoning diagnoses were based on the finding of at least 6-8 ppm (wet weight) lead in the liver and either lead shot in the gizzard content or at least one convincing gross lesion indicative of lead poisoning. Four hundred twenty-one of these waterfowl were diagnosed as lead poisoned. The NWHC survey provided a comprehensive basis for estimating the sensitivities, specificities, and likelihood ratios of the gross lesions of lead poisoning and the associated hepatic lead concentrations for several species of waterfowl. Some of the 13 defined gross lesions were more common than others; frequencies ranged from 3% to 80% in the 421 lead-poisoned waterfowl. The most reliable indicators of lead poisoning were impactions of the upper alimentary tract, submandibular edema, myocardial necrosis, and biliary discoloration of the liver. Each of the 13 lesions occurred more frequently in the lead-poisoned birds, but each of the lesions also occurred in waterfowl that died of other causes. The number of lead shot present in a bird's gizzard was only weakly correlated with its hepatic lead concentration; however, this weak correlation may have been adequate to account for differences in hepatic lead concentrations among species, once the weights of the species were taken into account. Although lead-poisoned ducks tended to have higher hepatic mean lead concentrations than did lead-poisoned geese or swans, the differences were probably a result of a greater dose of shot per body weight than to kinetic differences between species. Hepatic lead concentrations were independent of age and sex. Ninety-five percent of waterfowl diagnosed as lead poisoned had hepatic lead concentrations of at least 38 ppm dry weight (10 ppm wet weight). Fewer than 1% of the waterfowl that died of other causes had a concentration that high. This fifth percentile, of 38 ppm dry weight (10 ppm wet weight), is a defensible criterion for identifying lead-poisoned waterfowl when interpreting hepatic lead concentrations in the absence of pathological observations.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Some characteristics of acute poisoning with psychoactive substances in the period of socioeconomic transition 1990-2000.

INTRODUCTION: Although scarce, the data about acute poisonings with psycho-active substances during the period of socioeconomic crisis in Bulgaria indicate the appearance and increase of the use of inhalants, prescribed and over-the-counter medications and the increase of acute poisoning rate with heroin. AIM: To ascertain some characteristics of acute poisonings with psycho-active substances in Plovdiv region from 01.01.1990 to 31.12.2000. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The whole caseload of 571 acute poisonings with psycho-active substances in Plovdiv region (8.8% of the population of the country) between 1990 and 2000, treated in the only Clinic of Toxicology in the region is studied retrospectively. The variables gender, age, type of psycho-active substance (DSM-IV criteria), grade of severity, duration of use, times of poisoning and some differences between alcohol and opioid poisonings are investigated. RESULTS: Acute poisoning with psycho-active substances are 5.43% of all intoxications. The moderate grade of severity (48.5%), alcohol (62.8%) and opioid (15.3%) intoxications, debut poisoning (86.8%) and poisonings occurring in the initial period of use predominate. An increase of acute poisonings with psycho-active substances in the last third of the studied period (1990-2000) is established--severe forms (2.59 times) and recidivistic intoxication (4 times). Alcohol and opioid poisonings predominate among severe intoxications. The hospital stay is relatively short--1.75 +/- 0.67 and hospital lethality is 1.6%. CONCLUSIONS: 1. The moderate grade of severity, alcohol and opioid intoxications (especially in the severe grade cases), occurrence in the initial period of use and relatively short hospital stay predominate in acute poisonings with psycho-active substances in the period of socioeconomic crisis. Hospital lethality (1.6%) is ascertained only in severe alcohol intoxication. 2. An increase of acute poisonings with psycho-active substances--severe forms, mild forms and recidivistic intoxications is established in the last third (1998-2000) of the studied period. The most expressed increase is ascertained in 2000. 3. Urgent complex measures are necessary to contain the spread of psycho-active substances and acute poisonings with them.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

[Acute poisoning in children in Vojvodina].

The paper deals with acute poisoning among children in Voivodina from the point of view of frequency, characteristics and regional differences. The histories of the poisoned children aged 0-16 years, who were hospitalized in all eleven in-patient clinics in Voivodina during 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1989, were analysed. Acute poisoning in children accounted for 2.4% of hospital morbidity. The most frequent causes of poisoning were medicaments (60.6%), pesticides (8.7%), ethanol (6.34%), organic solvents (5.7%) and all other substances (18.35%). Poisoning occurred more often among boys than among girls (53.47%). The average age of the poisoned was 4.7 years. The average age of the poisoned girls was significantly higher than that of the poisoned boys. Poisoning usually took place during a "game", but a major number of poisonings was suicidal. There were great regional differences as regards the course of poisoning, sex and average age of the poisoned, circumstances of poisoning and period in which it happened. The children's age and circumstances of poisoning point to the absence of preventive measures or their failure.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2005

The association between admission for poisoning with paracetamol or other weak analgesics and subsequent admission for psychiatric disorder: a Danish nationwide case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Many cases of paracetamol poisoning are with suicidal intent, but the association between paracetamol poisoning and subsequent psychiatric disorder is unknown. AIM: To examine the association between poisoning with paracetamol or other weak analgesics and subsequent psychiatric disorder. METHODS: The study was set in a nested case-control design and based on nationwide Danish registers. We identified all patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, affective disorder or eating disorder in 1994-1998 and matched population controls. We estimated the relative risk of these psychiatric disorders after admission for paracetamol or nonparacetamol poisoning, adjusting for income, employment and marital status. RESULTS: We included 12,603 cases with psychiatric disorder, and 1.2% had a diagnosis of poisoning compared with 0.2% of the 252,060 matched population controls. Compared with those with no diagnoses of weak analgesic poisoning, the risk of schizophrenia increased 3.9-fold after paracetamol poisoning, and 2.0-fold after nonparacetamol poisoning. The risk of affective disorder increased 12.2-fold after paracetamol poisoning and 2.6-fold after nonparacetamol poisoning. The risk of eating disorder increased 5.0-fold after paracetamol poisoning, and 2.2-fold after nonparacetamol poisoning. The risk of a diagnosis of psychiatric disorder was very high immediately after poisoning and remained increased for more than 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: Paracetamol poisoning is a strong risk marker for psychiatric disorder, particularly affective disorders.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

International Poison Information Center data collection capabilities.

Hundreds of poison information centers are in operation throughout the world. Their common objective is to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with accidental and intentional poisoning exposures. However, there is little information available which describes the impact of the centers on the outcome of poisonings or on poisoning trends. The objective of this project was to determine the data collection capabilities of poison information centers outside of the US with a goal of ascertaining whether a common database existed and if an international database of poisoning exposures could be developed. A survey was developed which requested information on the specific instrument used to document poisoning exposures, how that information was compiled, whether it was available in a computer database, the type of database, and whether it was available to external agencies and at what cost. The survey was sent to 75 poison information centers outside of the US. The data were compiled and analyzed using Paradox 3.5. Twenty-four of the 75 poison information centers completed and returned the surveys. Four of the 24 had no computer capabilities and only 9 centers indicated a willingness to share data. The majority of the databases were in a DOS format, but no consistent type of database software was used. If the sample that responded to the survey is representative of the international poison information center community, there is neither a common data collection instrument nor a common toxic exposure surveillance system which can be used to identify poisoning trends or to track the outcome of poisonings. A concerted effort to create a universal database on poisoning exposures should be considered.

Data Collection↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Poisoning in children: Indian scenario.

The retrospective data on childhood poisoning from eight regional hospitals in India has been reviewed. The demographic features and types of poisonings encountered have been compared. The analysis of the data indicated that pediatric poisonings constituted 0.23-3.3% of the total poisoning. The mortality ranged from 0.64-11.6% with highest being from Shimla. Accidental poisoning was common involving 50-90% of children below 5 years of age and males outnumbered the females. Suicidal poisoning was seen after 13 years of age and was due to drugs and household chemicals. One of the hospitals in Delhi recorded a very high incidence (66.6%) of drug poisoning in children. The drugs consumed belonged to phenothiazines, antiepileptics and antipyretics. Iron poisoning was seen in younger children. Kerosene was one of the causes of accidental poisoning at all hospitals except Shimla and rural Maharashtra were probably wood charcoal is widely used. Pesticide poisoning was more prevalent in Punjab and West Bengal whereas plant poisoning was very common in Shimla. Significant number of snake envenomation has been recorded from rural Maharashtra. Other less common accidental poisonings in children included alcohol, corrosives, heavy metals, rodenticides, detergents and disinfectants. Thus various regions in the country showed some variation in types and frequency of childhood poisoning which could be attributed to different geographical and socio-economic background.

Adolescent↗