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[Toxicological analyses over the past five years at a single institution]
Kimiko Matsuda1, Misao Okamoto, Mutsuko Ashida
1Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kawasaki Medical School Hospital, Kurashiki 701-0192.
Rinsho Byori. the Japanese Journal of Clinical Pathology
|December 31, 2004
Summary
Acute poisoning cases were analyzed, revealing hypnotic/psychotropic drugs as the leading cause in younger individuals, while pesticides/herbicides were more prevalent in those over 30. Fatalities were primarily linked to Paraquat and Diquat.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Emergency Medicine
- Public Health
Context:
- Acute poisoning represents a significant public health concern, necessitating an understanding of causative agents and demographic trends.
- Data from emergency and critical care centers provide crucial insights into poisoning epidemiology.
Purpose:
- To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of acute poisoning cases.
- To identify common causative agents and demographic patterns in poisoning incidents.
- To analyze mortality associated with specific toxic substances.
Summary:
- A study of 352 acute poisoning patients (1999-2004) identified hypnotic/psychotropic drugs (47.5%) and antipyretics/analgesics (23.0%) as leading causes.
- Pesticide/herbicide poisoning increased in individuals over 30, peaking in their 40s.
- Fatal poisonings (23 cases) were predominantly linked to Paraquat/Diquat (20 cases), organophosphates (2 cases), and antidepressants (1 case).
Impact:
- Findings highlight the need for targeted prevention strategies based on age-specific poisoning trends.
- Understanding prevalent toxins, like pesticides and specific drug classes, can inform emergency response protocols.
- This research contributes to the broader knowledge base on acute poisoning, aiding clinical management and public health interventions.