Citation

Chan YC, Fung HT, Lee CK, Tsui SH, Ngan HK, Sy MY, Tse ML, Kam CW, Wong GCK, Tong HK, Lit ACH, Wong TW, Lau FL. Hong Kong J. Emerg. Med. 2005; 12(3): 156-161.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Medcom Limited)

DOI

10.1177/102490790501200305

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To update our epidemiological knowledge of acute poisoning in Hong Kong.

METHODS: A multicentred prospective study was conducted for six months in six major accident and emergency departments in Hong Kong. A specially designed form was used to collect demographic data, type of poison involved, cause of poisoning, management, disposal as well as final outcome of the poisoned patients.

RESULTS: A total of 1,467 patients (male: 588, female: 879) were included in the study. Most of them were young adults (32% were between 20 and 40 years old). Suicidal attempt (64%) was the most common cause of poisoning. Notably, 379 (26%) patients took more than one poison. Among the 2,007 counts of poison taken, sleeping pills (24%) and analgesics (18%) were the most commonly used drugs and paracetamol was the commonest single ingredient involved in poisoning. Most patients were treated with supportive measures, and about 40% and 15% of the patients were given gastrointestinal decontamination and specific antidotes respectively in their management, in which activated charcoal and N-acetylcysteine were the most common. Concerning disposal from the emergency department, 91% of the poisoned cases required in-patient management. Most patients had an uneventful recovery but 5 (0.3%) had significant disability and 21 (1.4%) died. Suicidal carbon monoxide poisoning was the leading cause of mortality in our study.

CONCLUSIONS: Most acute poisonings in Hong Kong were suicidal in nature and paracetamol was the commonest agent. Activated charcoal was the most commonly used decontamination method and most patients had an uneventful recovery.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; Epidemiology; naloxone; female; male; Poisoning; Hong Kong; mortality; Emergency medicine; suicide attempt; intoxication; death; article; major clinical study; controlled study; analgesic agent; anticonvulsive agent; drug intoxication; tricyclic antidepressant agent; carbon monoxide; carbon monoxide intoxication; stomach lavage; emergency ward; acetylsalicylic acid; dextropropoxyphene; paracetamol; activated carbon; information processing; demography; detoxification; antidote; flumazenil; domestic chemical; prospective study; cholinergic receptor blocking agent; hospital care; acetylcysteine; phytomenadione; bicarbonate; hyperbaric oxygen; oxygen; psychedelic agent; narcotic analgesic agent; central stimulant agent; herbaceous agent; cardiac agent; industrial toxic substance; venom antiserum