Profile of acute poisoning cases presenting to health centres and hospitals in Oman.
A simple pro forma was used for a retrospective study of poisoning cases at 45 health institutions in Oman during January-December 2000. No deaths were recorded among 2009 cases of acute poisoning. A quarter of all cases (55.8% of paediatric cases) were children aged 1-4 years. The largest category (59.5%) was animal bites and stings: 25.4% undiagnosed, 19.7% scorpion stings, 7.6% bee, spider or wasp stings and 6.8% snake bites. Next highest (38.5%) was ingestion of substances: 18.2% pharmaceuticals, 8.2% food and 4.7% household products. Most drug-related cases were due to paracetamol. Suicide attempts were recorded for 6.0%. Collection of poisoning data through a central registry system is needed for the implementation and future assessment of prevention programmes.
Lall
S B
SB
Directorate of Environmental Health and Malaria Eradication, Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman.
Al-Wahaibi
S S
SS
Al-Riyami
M M
MM
Al-Kharusi
K
K
D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003625:Data Collection; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D009850:Oman / Q000453:epidemiology; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome