Citation

Targosz D, Sancewicz-Pach K, Szkolnicka B, Mitrus M, Klys M. Przegl. Lek. 2005; 62(6): 446-452.

Affiliation

Poison Information Centre, Chair of Clinical and Environmental Toxicology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Przeglad Lekarski)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16225092

Abstract

The pattern (frequency, type of exposure, toxic substance) of adolescent and adult poisonings in Krakow in 2003 is compared with 1983. The analysis includes data for poisoned patients treated at the Krakow Department of Clinical Toxicology and all on the spot fatal cases subjected to post-mortem autopsy and toxicological examinations at the Department of Forensic Medicine Jagiellonian University Medical College in both the years. As much as 4341 poisoning cases (2852 males; 1489 females) were treated in 2003 compared with 2132 (1078 males; 1054 females) in 1983. In 1983 in group of 154 poisoned persons who died at the place of accident there were 138 (89.6%) men and 16 (10.4%) women. In 2003 among 121 deaths at the scene there were 93 (76.9%) males and 28 (23.1%) females. Poisonings due to suicidal attempts decreased significantly from 53.6% in 1983 to 19% in 2003. Incidence of poisoning per 10 000 of general Krakow population increased from 36.17 in 1983 to 57 in 2003 or up to 65.7 if the population of adults and teenagers (above 15 years old) was only considered. Pharmaceuticals (40.6%) followed in frequency by ethanol (25%) and ethanol co-ingested with pharmaceuticals (12.2%) and carbon monoxide (10.6%) were the most common reasons for poisoning in 1983. In 2003 the most common cause of poisonings was ethanol (46.2%) followed by pharmaceuticals alone (25%) or co-ingested with ethanol (6.4%) and carbon monoxide (6.2%). An ingestion of mixed pharmaceuticals (55.1%) followed In frequency by non-barbiturate hypnotics and psychotropic drugs (26.3%) were a most common in 1983 whereas a non-barbiturate hypnotics and psychotropic drugs (34.4%) followed by mixed pharmaceuticals (32.9%) in 2003. A mortality both concerning only the people who died in hospital and also those who died on the spot (prior to any treatment) was significantly higher in 1983 compared with 2003.