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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1976

Suspected poisoning in children. Study of the incidence of true poisoning and poisoning scare in a defined population in North East Bristol.

The distinction between true and suspected poisoning in children has not been made clear in previous work on childhood poisoning. A study of suspected poisoning in children under 15 years of age in a defined population of North East Bristol from November 1970 to July 1973 carried out by the Health Education Council Medical Research Division included 53,000 child-years at risk. The number of suspected poisonings was 3-4/1000 population aged under 15 years per year, with a higher incidence in younger age groups. Detailed investigation of the circumstances of the accidents carried out by a multidisciplinary team showed that at least 65%, and possibly as many as 78% were poisoning scares and not true poisoning. The evidence used by the casualty doctor and by the parents to diagnose poisoning was explored, and in many cases was circumstantial. Children with fathers in nonmanual occupations were over-represented. This may reflect differences in patterns of utilization behaviour rather than true differences in incidence.

Accidents, Home↗
PubMed1990

Reliability of routine hospital data on poisoning as measures of deliberate self poisoning in adolescents.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim was to assess the extent to which routinely collected data on poisoning in adolescents reflected deliberate self poisoning and, in doing, so to assess the accuracy of the diagnostic information on poisoning in the routine hospital abstracts which form the joint data base of Hospital Activity Analysis and the Oxford Record Linkage Study (ORLS). DESIGN: A comparison was made (a) of all eligible ORLS records during the study period with an independent source of records; and (b) of a random sample of records from an independent source with ORLS. SETTING: Records of patients admitted to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford were used. SUBJECTS: These were (a) patients aged 10-20 years between 1980 and 1985 with a diagnosis of poisoning by drugs and medicaments in ORLS; (b) a random sample of 500 patients selected from the self harm monitoring files at the hospital (12 patients were not eligible for inclusion in ORLS and were therefore excluded from the rest of the study). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The recorded diagnosis was compared on the records selected from the two files. Of the 1123 events of poisoning identified in ORLS, 1081 (96.3%) were correctly coded as poisoning and 1065 (95%) of these were deliberate self poisoning. Of the 488 cases from the monitoring files, 467 (95.7%) of all cases had a correct diagnosis of injury or poisoning on the ORLS file. Of the 453 poisoning cases 436 (96.2%) were correctly recorded in ORLS. CONCLUSIONS: Deliberate self poisoning in adolescents can be identified through routinely collected hospital statistics. A very high percentage of the diagnostic information on poisoning in ORLS files is correctly recorded.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Poisoning and poison control centres in Canada.

Poisoning is a major and increasing health problem in the Western world. In 1972 the 310 poison control centres in Canada reported 53 531 enquiries about poisoning, 40% in adults. In 1964 the numbers of hospital admissions and deaths due to poisoning in this country were 2446 and 38, respectively, but in 1972 the figures were 6263 and 319, respectively. Most of the hospitalizations and deaths were among adults. Of 100 Canadian poison control centres two thirds were staffed by "any nurse in the emergency room", most of whom had received no training to answer the phone enquiries. However, two thirds agreed a training program is needed. Only 6.7% of 223 parents surveyed stated they would call a poison control centre if their child had accidentally swallowed a large amount of a poisonous substance. Regionalization of centres, a training program for personnel answering telephone enquiries, the need for crisis intervention as part of poison control programs, and public education about poisoning and poison control centres are the new challenges facing those providing health services.

Canada↗
PubMed1992

Poisoning prevention knowledge and practices of parents after a childhood poisoning incident.

This study investigated the effectiveness of a poison center-initiated mailed intervention on improving the preventive practices of families whose preschool child had recently experienced a poisoning incident. A low-cost, mailed poisoning prevention packet consisting of telephone stickers, a +f41 coupon for syrup of ipecac, one slide-style cabinet lock, a nine-step checklist for "poison-proofing" the home, pamphlets, and a cover letter was tested prospectively on a population of parents calling a poison center for advice about possible poisoning exposures involving their preschool children. Parents without ipecac 1 week after the incident were randomized so that half received the mailed intervention. A "blind" follow-up telephone interview was conducted 3 months later. Of the 336 original families enrolled in the study, 301 (90% retention) completed the follow-up interview. Those who had received the intervention were more likely to have a telephone sticker than control families (78% vs 39%; P < .0001) and were more likely to be using at least one slide lock in the home (59% vs 40%; P < .001). However, intervention families were no more likely to have ipecac on hand than control families (57% vs 52%; P = not significant) and did not indicate a higher rate of compliance with suggested changes in other behaviors and practices to prevent poisonings. A poisoning recurrence rate of 3.7% was seen in the total sample during the 3-month period of surveillance; there was no difference between groups in recurrence rate. Even after a poisoning event, parents may not be sufficiently motivated to take poisoning prevention measures on their own.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Accidents, Home↗
PubMed1991

A poison information service for small animals offered by a regional poison center.

Since 1985 the Hennepin Regional Poison Center has provided the same quality service to veterinarians and pet owners that parents of small children, physicians and other health care providers have enjoyed for many years. To facilitate this service, the poison center has expanded its data base to include information on small animal poisonings and has periodically mailed newsletters state-wide to veterinarians. In addition, the poison center began to routinely assist per owners in the home treatment of minor ingestions in dogs, and enlisted the aid of a veterinary toxicologist who is on-call for consultation. Prior to 1985, animal-related exposures totaled 1,092 cases, which comprised 3.9% of the center's total annual cell volume. As a result of the above efforts, calls from veterinarians and pet owners increased to approximately 2,000 cases annually for the period 1986-88 (average 6.3%). Recently, the poison center received the financial support of the Minnesota State Veterinary Association for the printing of telephone stickers promoting a line exclusively for pet calls (337-PETS). This Pet Poison Information Service appears well received, resulting in an additional 58% increase in pet-related calls. During 1990 this center consulted on over 3,500 exposures in companion animals. Based on our experience, veterinarians and pet owners appear to have been relatively neglected by poison centers. Poison centers may play an important role in the treatment of poisonings in pets.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

The essential role of a poison center in handling an outbreak of barium carbonate poisoning.

Acute barium salt poisoning may cause acute hypokalemia and result in respiratory paralysis and ventricular tachyarrhythmias. The early nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms of barium poisoning due to food contamination could be confused with other benign food poisonings. Early diagnosis and initiation of intensive supportive care is essential. We report an outbreak of acute barium carbonate poisoning, occurring at a family reunion party, which resulted in 9 hospital admissions. All of the victims initially developed nausea, vomiting, abdominal colic, dizziness and watery diarrhea followed by numbness of the face and distal extremities 1-2 h after ingesting fried flour-coated sweet potatoes. The flour was later confirmed to be contaminated with barium carbonate. One person died in the emergency room with a serum potassium level of 0.8 mEq/L. Two other victims developed ventricular tachycardia and respiratory paralysis but completely recovered with the treatment advice provided by the poison center. The poison center was successful in helping to make the correct diagnosis in a timely manner, immediately distribute the treatment protocol, and coordinate the laboratory confirmation of barium carbonate poisoning.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

[Mortality from accidental poisoning in Budapest during 1961-1975. III. Alcohol poisoning].

In the examined 15 year period 174 persons--134 males and 40 females--died from alcohol poisoning. The number of cases of accidental alcohol poisonings has considerably increased. The number of cases of alcohol poisoning has increased at a rate thrice as high as the poisonings of all the other causes. The number of cases in the last third of the 15-year-period was five time higher than in the first third of it. The number of women deceased of alcohol poisoning increased at a greater rate than that of the males. Deaths from alcohol poisoning occurred first of all among the age groups between 40--59. In 67 cases of fatal alcohol poisoning the alcohol level in the serum was under 3 0/00. Regarding the latter, authors emphasize the importance of experts-opinions dealing with indirect cause relationships.

Accidents↗
PubMed1978

One year's experience in a regional poison control center: The Intermountain Regional Poison Control Center.

The Intermountain Regional Poison Control Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, has served as a regional poison center since 1971. Between 1972 and 1976 the call load has more than tripled, with the highest frequency of calls per population coming from counties most proximate to the center. Two-thirds of the cases involve children age five or less, with 18 or over being the next large group. Adolescents and school-age children comprised the smallest group of cases. Two predominant types of poisonings were encountered: accidental ingestions of toxic substances in children and intentional self-poisonings in adults, but the poison center handled almost every conceivable type of poisoning or toxic situation. A detailed analysis of the center's overall experience as well as these two major categories is presented.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Case reports of lead poisoning in dogs from the National Animal Poison Control Center and the Centre National D'Informations Toxicologiques, Veterinaires: anecdotes or reality?

This paper presents case reports of lead toxicoses from 2 major animal poison control centers in Europe and North America, gathered from 1985 through 1989. All results examined here involved cases assessed as "toxicosis" or "suspected toxicosis" by the National Animal Poison Control Center (NAPCC) or the Centre National d'Informations Toxicologiques Veterinaries (CNITV). 537 cases were reported to the NAPCC, most of them concerning dogs (59%). In France, most of the 362 cases involved cattle (57.2%). There was an increased number of cases reported during late summer and early fall, and a decreased number of cases in November and December, in both centers. Dogs intoxicated were predominantly young animals (60% were less than 2 years old). No sex difference was noted. Pure bred dogs appeared more often involved than mixed-breed ones, but the breed distribution closely resembles dog breed distribution in the US. The source of lead was usually unknown and, when information was available, paint seemed to be the most common cause of poisoning. Clinical signs reported to the animal poison control centers involved the CNS and GI tract. Results from the French and the American database showed similar trends. They are compared to data from veterinary clinics and veterinary colleges in the US and Australia. In each case, data are very similar to what was reported to the CNITV and the NAPCC. It is concluded that animal poison control centers databases can provide a useful tool for better knowledge of animal poisoning. They can also help identify unexpected toxicologic problems related to drug administration or pesticide use.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1989

Self-poisoning in Sri Lanka: factors determining the choice of the poisoning agents.

Sri Lanka is a developing agricultural country with a high fatality rate due to self-poisoning with very toxic agrochemicals as the main poisoning agents. A prospective study of 97 consecutive admissions following self-poisoning reveals that easy availability of the agrochemicals together with the lack of knowledge regarding their lethality were the main causative factors determining the choice of poisoning agents. Developing community awareness of the lethality of these substances, educating the farmers with regards to proper storage and disposal of agrochemicals together with stricter legislation regarding their sale and distribution may reduce the incidence of self-poisoning due to these agents with a consequent reduction in mortality due to self-poisoning.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Histamine poisoning (scombroid fish poisoning): an allergy-like intoxication.

Histamine poisoning results from the consumption of foods, typically certain types of fish and cheeses, that contain unusually high levels of histamine. Spoiled fish of the families, Scombridae and Scomberesocidae (e.g. tuna, mackerel, bonito), are commonly implicated in incidents of histamine poisoning, which leads to the common usage of the term, "scombroid fish poisoning", to describe this illness. However, certain non-scombroid fish, most notably mahi-mahi, bluefish, and sardines, when spoiled are also commonly implicated in histamine poisoning. Also, on rare occasions, cheeses especially Swiss cheese, can be implicated in histamine poisoning. The symptoms of histamine poisoning generally resemble the symptoms encountered with IgE-mediated food allergies. The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, an oral burning sensation or peppery taste, hives, itching, red rash, and hypotension. The onset of the symptoms usually occurs within a few minutes after ingestion of the implicated food, and the duration of symptoms ranges from a few hours to 24 h. Antihistamines can be used effectively to treat this intoxication. Histamine is formed in foods by certain bacteria that are able to decarboxylate the amino acid, histidine. However, foods containing unusually high levels of histamine may not appear to be outwardly spoiled. Foods with histamine concentrations exceeding 50 mg per 100 g of food are generally considered to be hazardous. Histamine formation in fish can be prevented by proper handling and refrigerated storage while the control of histamine formation in cheese seems dependent on insuring that histamine-producing bacteria are not present in significant numbers in the raw milk.

Cheese↗
PubMed1992

The poison center as a reservoir for antidotes for veterinary poisoning emergencies.

Animal poisonings account for a significant number of the cases responded to by poison centers. The majority of consultations involve small animals and do not necessitate the use of large amounts of pharmacologic antagonists, such as atropine to treat anticholinesterase pesticide poisonings. However, large animals such as cattle present unique management problems, since phenomenal amounts of antidotes may be needed to treat a herd of cattle, creating a significant economic impact. The most challenging dilemma is providing 24-h availability and a means of acquisition of sufficient quantities of antidotes to reduce the economic impact of large-animal poisonings. In conjunction with a state veterinary medical association, a RPIC serves as a depot for the storage and distribution of emergency veterinary antidotes. Sufficient quantities of atropine, methylene blue, calcium EDTA, sodium nitrite and thiosulfate, and activated charcoal are available via the RPIC to treat a herd of 200 cattle. The antidotes are available only for emergency treatment and with a veterinary prescription. The 24-h nature of the poison center makes it an ideal location to serve the needs of veterinarians.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Comparison of pediatric poisoning hazards: an analysis of 3.8 million exposure incidents. A report from the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

This analysis of life-threatening and fatal pediatric poisonings was conducted to aid poison prevention educational efforts, guide product reformulations and aversive agent use, reassess over-the-counter status for selected pharmaceuticals, and identify research areas for clinical advances in the treatment of pediatric poisonings. A hazard factor was devised to assess more objectively the pediatric poisoning hazard posed by pharmaceutical and nonpharmaceutical products. By considering the frequency and extent of injury following actual exposures, the hazard factor reflects more than the acute toxicity of individual ingredients and is also influenced by such variables as packaging, accessibility, availability (as a reflection of marketing), formulations, and closure types. Of the 3,810,405 exposures involving children younger than 6 years of age reported to poison centers in 1985 through 1989, 2117 patients experienced a major outcome (life-threatening effect or residual disability) and an additional 111 fatalities occurred. The three most commonly implicated substance categories, accounting for 30.4% of reported exposures, include cosmetics and personal care products, cleaning substances, and plants. All had low hazard factors, with significant hazards being limited to a small number of products identified herein. Thus this analysis of hazard factors demonstrates that frequent exposure does not imply toxicity. Iron supplements were the single most frequent cause of pediatric unintentional ingestion fatalities, accounting for 30.2% of reported pediatric pharmaceutical unintentional ingestion fatalities reported over an 8-year period. Antidepressants, cardiovascular medications, and methyl salicylate follow in frequency of pediatric pharmaceutical deaths. Hydrocarbons (including five lamp oil deaths) and pesticides were each implicated in 12 pediatric ingestion fatalities during the 8-year period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1979

[Mortality from accidental poisoning in Budapest during 1961-1975. II. Carbon monoxide poisoning].

In the examined 15 year period accidental deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning amounted to 641 persons--341 males and 300 females. The number of poisonings increased evenly and at a progressive rate, although the frequency of carbon monoxide poisoning--among the accidental poisonings--decreased. The majority of the deceased from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning was older 60 years. 90.4 per cent of cases occurred at home. In 37.7 per cent of the cases the source of the gas appeared to be the gap-tap turned off wrongly and in 36.4 per cent the escape of gas. 4.4 per cent of the cases survived. 14.4 per cent of the deceased had alcohol in their blood.

Accidents↗
PubMed1979

[Mortality from accidental poisoning in Budapest during 1961-1975. IV. Various types of poisoning].

In the 15-year-period analyzed 242 persons--170 males and 72 females--died from various kind of poisons (alcohol and carbon monoxide excluded). The fatal poisonings were as follows: 69 cases--due to mushroom, 33--organic solvents, 23--23 cases--caustic material (soda and acids), 21--methylalcohol, 18--weedkillers and insecticides. Some types of poisonings seems to be more frequent among males, others among females. The frequency of above mentioned poisonings decreases. The majority of deceased appeared to be of elderly age. The type of poisoning and the age of the deceased are not correlated.

Accidents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Acute diltiazem (DTZ) poisoning. Survey of french poison control centers].

UNLABELLED: The end-points of this study upon 134 cases reports by the french Poison Centers from 1979 to 1988 (10 years) were to specify the acute toxicity of diltiazem (DTZ). There were 83 self-poisonings in adults, with diltiazem alone (36 cases) or associated with other non cardiotoxic drugs (47), the doses of DTZ ranging from 300 to 5400 mg, and 51 acute accidental overdose in children, the doses of DTZ ranging from 60 to 420 mg. One case of hypotension was observed in a child, without rhythmic disorder, occurring twelve hours post-ingestion of 180 mg of DTZ. In adults, the clinical effects were observed following 360 mg of dose DTZ, occurring 1 1/2 hour post-ingestion. There were discomfort, brady-cardia in 16% of the cases, hypotension in 23% of the cases, cardiogenic shock in 4% of the cases and cardiac arrest in 2.4% of the cases. The rhythmic disorders occurred 2 to 15 hours post-ingestion. There were conduction defects like atrio-ventricular heart bloc I degree in 9% of the cases, II degree in 2.4% of the cases and III degree in 9% of the cases. Less frequently, sinusal bradycardia in 11% of the cases or sino-auricular heart block in 4% of the cases with sometimes auriculo ventricular heart block. These cardiac disorders occurred with 600 mg of DTZ. A cardiac arrest happened in a young healthy man who had absorbed 5400 mg of DTZ. The cardiogenic shocks occurred in patients with an history of coronary on heart disease. The poison removal is likely to prevent the occurrence of clinical or EKG effects when performed within 2 hours post-ingestion, whatever toxic the dose is. The inotropic drugs have been used in 18% of the cases; a percutaneous ventricular pacing was always effective in patients with II or III degree atrio-ventricular block or/and cardiogenir shock. These data confirm the data in thirteen patients of the literature. IN CONCLUSION: The acute diltiazem poisoning can occur after 600 mg of DTZ and can induce severe cardiac disorders which can be prevented with poison removal or treated with supportive care.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Epidemiology of pediatric paracetamol poisoning (retrospective analysis of calls received by the Poison Control Center of Tours)].

The authors analysed 101 phone calls received in 3 years and 8 months at the Poison Control Center of Tours for paracetamol poisoning in children under 15 years of age. 70% of children were between 1 and 5 years old, 15% under 1 year and 15% over 5 years old. The kind of poisoning differ according to age: iatrogenic in 93% of cases under 1 year old (medication given by parents; error in dosage); accidental in 85% of cases between 1 and 5 years old and "willful" poisoning (43%) or accidental (36%) over 5 years old. The average quantity of ingested paracetamol was low (58mg/kg). The delay before phone call from an individual or a doctor was usually quite short. The neurologic or digestive signs were present in 12% of the children. The outcome was uneventful in all cases indicating that this form of poisoning is being in childrens.

Acetaminophen↗