title: [Toxicological analyses over the past five years at a single institution].
abstract: We investigated 352 patients with acute poisoning, 145 males and 207 females, who were sent to the Department of Emergency and Critical Care Center between June 1999 and March 2004. The insurance application rate averaged 72.5%. The causative agents included 98 prescribed drugs, 23 pesticides and herbicides, cyanide, arsenic and boric acid. Hypnotic and psychotropic drugs accounted for 192 cases (47.5%); antipyretics and analgesics, 93 (23.0%); pesticides and herbicides, 65 (16.1%); amphetamine-like drugs, 6 (1.5%); boric acid, 4 (1.0%); cyanide, 3 (0.7%); arsenic, 1 (0.2%); and other agents, 40 (9.9%). In young people, the most prevalent cause of poisoning was hypnotic,or psychotropic drugs prescribed in psychiatry clinics. In people older than 30, poisoning due to pesticides and herbicides was increased, reaching a peak among those in their 40s. Of 23 patients who died, 20 took Paraquat and Diquat, 2 took organophosphates and 1 took an overdose of antidepressants. The other 329 were transferred to different medical departments or were discharged from our hospital after recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kawasaki Medical School Hospital, Kurashiki 701-0192.
authors.forename: Kimiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Misao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Mutsuko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ashida
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishimaru
authors.forename: Ikuo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Horiuti
authors.forename: Kouichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Seiichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tohyama
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000367:Age Factors; D062787:Drug Overdose; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010575:Pesticides / Q000506:poisoning*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000506:poisoning*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs