title: [The parenteral drug addict in the emergency service].
abstract: Clinical and epidemiological features of intravenous drug addicts (IVDA), who attended the emergency department between 1984 and 1988, were studied. The number of cases treated over these 4 years had increased three-fold (256 vs 724). The median age had increased by 3 years (p less than 0.01). The sex ratio had not changed. A third of the cases knew that they were HIV-seropositive in 1988. The main reason for consultation in 1984 was overdosage and in 1988 it was fever. The rate of admission was similar in both years (around 21%). There was a significant increase in admissions caused by respiratory diseases in 1988 (p less than 0.0001) and a significant decrease of admissions caused by overdosage (p less than 0.001).
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna (Sección Urgencias), Hospital General La Paz, Madrid.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lahoz Rallo
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mostaza Prieto
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Valencia Ortega
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernández Martín
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Michan Doña
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Juárez Alonso
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004630:Emergencies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D003932:Heroin / Q000009:adverse effects; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D003932:Heroin
vernacular_title: El adicto a drogas por vía parenteral en el servicio de urgencias.