Texas poisonings at the beginning of the 21st century: 2000 through 2002

Human exposure calls to poison centers may vary by geographic region. This investigation compared the pattern of human exposure calls to Texas poison centers with calls to those in other states from 2000 through 2002. Although the total number of human exposure calls increased for both Texas and non-Texas poison centers, the increase was twice as great for those in Texas. Patients in Texas human exposure calls tended to be younger. Texas calls were more likely to involve bites and stings, suspected suicides, and intentional abuse exposures and were less likely to involve unintentional environmental exposures. Texas exposures were less likely to occur by dermal, inhalation, and ocular routes. Texas patients were more likely to be treated with decontamination. The death rate from poisoning was slightly lower in Texas. Knowledge of the human exposure calls to particular poison centers allows the poison centers to use their resources most efficiently.