[Carbon monoxide poisoning: a pending subject for physicians and users].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the incidence of cases of carbon monoxide poisoning diagnosed at a General Hospital's Casualty Department, to evaluate its clinical features and diagnostic difficulties, to find data on how much information the patients had on the risk of poisoning, what measures were adopted for a technician to check the apparatus which caused the poisoning, and on re-use.


METHODS
An observational descriptive study.


METHODS
Casualty Department of a County Hospital with a catchment area of 80,000 people.


METHODS
Included in the survey were the 27 clinical histories for the cases of poisoning attended in Casualty at Igualada General Hospital in 1993.


RESULTS
27 poisoning cases were diagnosed (0.5/1,000 emergencies attended). Symptoms were non-specific in most cases, being mainly migraine, nausea/vomiting and feeling sick.


CONCLUSIONS
Carbon monoxide poisoning is still an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Focus on the possible diagnosis during the winter months would enable new, potentially serious cases to be treated or avoided. Campaigns to warn the community and to check apparatuses causing poisoning are needed.
Alins
J
J
ABS Santa Margarita de Montbui, Barcelona.
Caballero
I
I
Baguena
F
F
Montull
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012621:Seasons; D013030:Spain
Intoxicación por monóxido de carbono: una asignatura pendiente para médicos y usuarios.