Citation

Vilar Queirós AJ. Arq. Med. 2003; 17(4): 148-152+187.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Associacao de Estudantnes da Faculdade de Medicina do Porto)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The study aims to characterise hospitalised patients for acute intoxication over a period of 13 years in Coimbra's University Hospital. A descriptive study was held by the analysis of the hospital computerized discharge data. 1570 admissions were identified, with pesticides being the main agents envolved. Voluntary intoxications are the majority, specialy in males. Mortality is high, raising up to 16% in the elderly. The study shows the existence of a serious problem maintained over the years. From it emerges the possibility of adopting similar procedure with national data in possession of the Ministry of Health. It would be possible then, without great investment, to build an instrument capable of planning and controlling preventive strategies to minimise the occurence of intoxications.

Language: pt