2008 Database of Korean Toxic Exposures: A Preliminary Study.
- Author:
Byung Hak SO
1
;
Mi Jin LEE
;
Hyun KIM
;
Jeong Mi MOON
;
Kyung Hye PARK
;
Ae Jin SUNG
;
Seok Ran YEOM
;
Seong Beom OH
;
Ji Young YOU
;
Kyung Woo LEE
;
Kyung Won LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Poisoning;
Epidemiology;
Database
- MeSH:
Emergencies;
Humans;
Male;
Medical Records;
Paraquat;
Pesticides;
Retrospective Studies;
Toxicology
- From:Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
2010;8(2):51-60
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate toxic exposures in emergency centers with using a toxic exposure surveillance system-based report form as a preliminary study. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of toxic exposure patients who visited emergency centers from January to December 2008. RESULTS: 3,157 patients from 11 emergency centers were enrolled. Males were involved in 47.9% of the total cases of exposure and in 60.1% of the cases of fatal exposure. Suicidal intent was the most common (61.0%) reason and most (87.4%) fatal exposures were suicidal. Pesticides were involved in 30.7% of the cases and sedative/hypnotics/antipsychotics were involved in 20.5%. The substances most frequently involved in fatalities were pesticides, and a 48.4% fatality rate was recorded for paraquat exposure. CONCLUSION: The toxic exposure data showed the preliminary poisoning events in emergency centers. It is recommended that toxicology professionals should develop a toxic surveillance system and serial reporting should be performed.
