@article{ref1,
title="Hospitalizations due to poisonings in Slovenia--epidemiological aspects",
journal="Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift",
year="2010",
author="Lipnik-Stangelj, Metoda",
volume="122",
number="Suppl 2",
pages="54-58",
abstract="INTRODUCTION: Poisonings continue to be an important public health problem. Here we review the incidence and trend of poisoning by medicaments, drugs and biological substances in Slovenia during a five-year period, 2001-2005. We also investigate the etiological and demographic characteristics of poisoning cases in the Slovenian population, based on acute-poisoning admissions to hospitals in Slovenia. PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study comprised all cases of poisoning admitted to Slovenian hospitals during a five-year period. Data were obtained from the Annual Health Statistics and from the Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia. RESULTS: Poisonings by medicaments, drugs and biological substances were found to represent more than half (61%) of the poisonings treated in hospitals. Female poisonings were recorded at a higher rate than male poisonings. The majority of cases occurred in the age group 15-49 years but age groups 1-3 years and >65 years were also shown to be at risk. Children under 3 years of age were poisoned by accident, whereas most cases in teenagers and adults were intentional poisonings (attempted suicide); in the oldest age group, rates of intentional and unintentional poisonings were similar. Although there was a significant downward trend in the overall number of cases from 2001 to 2005, the incidence in children aged 1-3 years and in persons >65 years remained the same. CONCLUSIONS: Poisoning is an important health problem. A multidisciplinary approach is required so that preventive measures may be increased for all groups at risk.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0043-5325",
doi="10.1007/s00508-010-1338-9",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00508-010-1338-9"
}