In total, 511 Vietnamese patients (515 commit suicide events) admitted during the period from January 1, 1999 to April 30, 2001 were included in the study. The results shown that: nearly a half (48.7%) of the patients was in the age group of 15-24 years old. The female to male ratio of the patients living in the urban area (2.1:1) is higher than that in the rural area (1.2:1) with p<0.01. Among the patients: farmers (19.8%), students (24.7%) and homework (20.8%). Commit suicides were made more frequently in April with a significant difference between the urban and rural area (p=0.02). Conflicts with partners and other family members were the main causes of commit suicide. Anticarcotic and antipyretic were often used among the patients living in the urban, while pesticide and raticide more commonly in the rural areas as a means of commit suicide.
Suicide ; Poison Control Centers

OBJECTIVES: Envenomation from snake bites is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological features of snake bites in Morocco and to evaluate time-space trends in snake bite incidence, the mortality rate, and the case-fatality rate.METHODS: This is a retrospective study of snake bite cases reported to the Moroccan Poison Control Center between 1999 and 2013.RESULTS: During the study period, 2,053 people were bitten by snakes in Morocco. Most victims were adults (55.4%). The average age of the patients was 26.48±17.25 years. More than half of the cases (58.1%) were males. Approximately 75% of snake bites happened in rural areas, and 85 deaths were recorded during this period. The incidence of snake bites remained generally steady over the 15-year period of this study, with a marked increase noted since 2012. The mortality rate has increased slightly, from 0.02 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in 1999 to 0.05 in 2013. The geographical distribution of snake bite cases in the regions of Morocco showed that Tanger-Tétouan had the highest annual incidence of snake bites (1.41 bites per 100,000 inhabitants). However, the highest annual mortality rates were recorded in the Guelmim-Es Semara and Souss-Massa-Drâa regions (0.09 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants for both regions).CONCLUSION: The geographical distribution of the incidence, mortality, and case-fatality rates of snake bites in Morocco showed large disparities across regions during the three 5-year periods included in this study, meaning that certain areas can be considered high-risk for snake bites.
Adult ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Morocco ; Mortality ; Poison Control Centers ; Retrospective Studies ; Snake Bites ; Snakes

OBJECTIVES: Envenomation from snake bites is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological features of snake bites in Morocco and to evaluate time-space trends in snake bite incidence, the mortality rate, and the case-fatality rate. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of snake bite cases reported to the Moroccan Poison Control Center between 1999 and 2013. RESULTS: During the study period, 2,053 people were bitten by snakes in Morocco. Most victims were adults (55.4%). The average age of the patients was 26.48±17.25 years. More than half of the cases (58.1%) were males. Approximately 75% of snake bites happened in rural areas, and 85 deaths were recorded during this period. The incidence of snake bites remained generally steady over the 15-year period of this study, with a marked increase noted since 2012. The mortality rate has increased slightly, from 0.02 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in 1999 to 0.05 in 2013. The geographical distribution of snake bite cases in the regions of Morocco showed that Tanger-Tétouan had the highest annual incidence of snake bites (1.41 bites per 100,000 inhabitants). However, the highest annual mortality rates were recorded in the Guelmim-Es Semara and Souss-Massa-Drâa regions (0.09 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants for both regions). CONCLUSION: The geographical distribution of the incidence, mortality, and case-fatality rates of snake bites in Morocco showed large disparities across regions during the three 5-year periods included in this study, meaning that certain areas can be considered high-risk for snake bites.
Adult ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Morocco* ; Mortality ; Poison Control Centers ; Retrospective Studies ; Snake Bites* ; Snakes*

Drug poisoning has a high incidence and serious consequences in medical institutions; its epidemiological characteristics also directly affect the changes in national laws and policies and the implementation of local management policies. Chinese statistics on drug-related abnormal death cases generally come from judicial appraisal centers and medical units. However, due to differences in work content and professional restrictions, there are differences in information management forms, which makes it difficult for appraisers to conduct a professional and systematic analysis of drug-related cases. This article focuses on the analysis of epidemiological characteristics of sedative-hypnotics and opioid painkillers and their exposure patterns in cases of poisoning death by analyzing the annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Center, combined with the characteristics of drug exposure in China.
Analgesics, Opioid/adverse effects* ; China/epidemiology* ; Databases, Factual ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Poison Control Centers ; United States

Nicotine-poisoning related to the electronic cigarettes (e-cigarette) is increasing worldwide. Moreover, the American Association of Poison Control Centers has advised the public to use caution with e-cigarette devices and highly concentrated liquid nicotine after a surge in related poisonings. We report here the first case of nicotine poisoning from self-injected e-cigarette fluid in Korea. A 17-year-old male patient subcutaneously injected himself with 0.5 ml of nicotine solution for an electronic cigarette via the dorsum of his hand, after which he complained of nausea, vomiting, dizziness and dyspnea. His vital signs were within the normal range, but his mental status was drowsy. He was admitted for observation and the symptoms disappeared the following day. Sinus bradycardia with a rate of 45/min was observed on the third hospital day, but improved after 6 hours. He was discharged without complications.
Adolescent ; Bradycardia ; Dizziness ; Dyspnea ; Electronic Cigarettes* ; Hand ; Humans ; Injections, Subcutaneous* ; Korea ; Male ; Nausea ; Nicotine* ; Poison Control Centers ; Poisoning* ; Reference Values ; Vital Signs ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: Some advanced countries have reported annual statistics for poisoning based on data from poison control centers. This study was conducted to propose a baseline format and statistics of poisoning in Korea from a national representative database. METHODS: This study was a retrospective analysis of poisoning patients based on data from an emergency department (ED) based injury in-depth surveillance project by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2016. Bite or sting injuries were not included. Variables related to poisoning were summarized using a similar format as the National Poison Data System in the United States. RESULTS: A total of 7,820 poisoning patients presented to 23 EDs. Adults ≥20 years accounted for 84% of the population, while the proportion of intentional poisoning was 59.4%. The most common poisoning substances were therapeutic drugs (45%), gas (21%), pesticides (15%), and artificial toxic substances (13%). Overall, 34.5% of patients were admitted for further treatment. The mortality was 3.2% (248 cases), and the most common causative substances were carbon monoxide, glyphosate, and paraquat, in order. CONCLUSION: This study showed the recent status of poisoning in Korea. However, a comprehensive poisoning registry based on poison control centers may be required to provide more accurate national statistics in the future.
Adult ; Bites and Stings ; Carbon Monoxide ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Drug Overdose ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Information Systems ; Korea ; Mortality ; Paraquat ; Pesticides ; Poison Control Centers ; Poisoning* ; Retrospective Studies ; United States

OBJECTIVEThis study analyzed patterns of suicide and suicide attempts by poisoning as reported through a national poison control system for the purpose of improving intervention and prevention.

METHODSDuring the period of 2000 to 2006, 6440 cases of poisoning suicide were reported to the telephone consultation service system of The National Center for Poisoning Control (Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention). Among these records, 4728 cases had completed data for this analysis in terms of age, sex, trend of time and location, and type of poisons.

RESULTSThere were 60.6% female cases with the age from 10 to 90 years old. The age of cases from 20 to 39 years accounted for 54.5% of all age groups. Both the numbers and percentage in record related to poisoning consultation of oral poisoning suicide showed an increasing tendency during the 7 years. In particular, there was a drastic increase from 2004 to 2006. In addition, the high frequency of cases occurred from May to October. Hebei, Shandong, Henan, and Anhui Provinces had the highest number of cases. Pesticide poisonings were the most common method in these cases of consultation for suicide and suicide attempts.

CONCLUSIONThis study describes epidemiological characteristics in the oral poisoning suicide cases and provides scientific basis for suicide prevention interventions.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Geography ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pesticides ; poisoning ; Poison Control Centers ; statistics & numerical data ; Poisoning ; epidemiology ; Sex Factors ; Suicide ; statistics & numerical data ; trends ; Suicide, Attempted ; statistics & numerical data ; trends ; Young Adult