Citation

Chow TYA, Chan CK, Ng SH, Tse ML. Hong Kong J. Emerg. Med. 2020; 27(6): 344-355.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Medcom Limited)

DOI

10.1177/1024907919893469

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to report and analyse the poisoning data of Hong Kong Poison Information Centre in 2018.

METHODS: In 2018, all poisoning cases received by Hong Kong Poison Information Centre were retrieved from its database, Poison Information and Clinical Management System, for analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 3960 poisoned cases were analysed. There were 1770 male patients (44.7%), 2188 female patients (55.3%) and 2 sex-unspecified patients (<0.1%). The majority of cases (68.3%) were between 20 and 69 years old, and 9.9% involved children of 0-5 years old. The common causes of poisoning were suspected self-harm/suicidal attempt (36.6%), unintentional exposure (18.4%) and abusive substance use (11.1%). Excluding the common co-ingestant ethanol, the five commonest types of poison were benzodiazepines, paracetamol, Chinese herbal medicine, household products and zopiclone. Most patients were managed with supportive measures, while 13.5% and 13.7% of consultation cases were treated by decontamination and antidotes, respectively. The majority of cases had uneventful recovery; 0.8% resulted in death and 4.9% had major outcomes. A total of eight interesting cases were discussed.

CONCLUSION: This 13th annual report provided the updated epidemiological information on poisoning pattern in Hong Kong and highlighted important changes in comparison with our previous reports. © The Author(s) 2019.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; Epidemiology; naloxone; child; female; male; Hong Kong; alcohol; aged; case report; toxicity; depression; suicide attempt; alcohol intoxication; comparative study; major clinical study; school child; clinical article; automutilation; middle aged; preschool child; neurotoxicity; paracetamol; activated carbon; poison; health care personnel; benzodiazepine; antidote; atropine; flumazenil; zopiclone; acetylcysteine; glucose; phytomenadione; bicarbonate; Glasgow coma scale; insulin; succimer; hyponatremia; hydroxocobalamin; metabolic acidosis; glucagon; pralidoxime; cyproheptadine; thiamine; calcium; 4 methylpyrazole; methylene blue; brain ischemia; Article; venom antiserum; outcome assessment; Cushing syndrome; carnitine; septic shock; Chinese medicine; physostigmine; skin defect; congestive cardiomyopathy; young adult; digoxin antibody F(ab) fragment; hyperammonemia; very elderly; intralipid; silibinin; hyperbaric oxygen therapy; stonefish venom; apparent mineralocorticoid excess syndrome; octopus bite; poison control centre; tetrahydropalmatine; water-repellent shoe spray