title: Poisoning in Israel: annual report of the Israel Poison Information Center, 2007.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Israel National Poison Information Center, Rambam Health Care Campus, provides telephone consultations on clinical toxicology as well as drug and teratogen information around the clock. The Center participates in research, teaching and regulatory activities and also provides laboratory services.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze data on the epidemiology of poisonings and poison exposures in Israel.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted computerized queries and a descriptive analysis of the medical records database of the IPIC during 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 26,738 poison exposure cases were recorded, a 118.5% increase compared to 1995. Children under 6 years old were involved in 45% of cases; 73% of the calls were made by the public and 25.5% by physicians; 74.4% of exposures were unintentional and 9.2% intentional. Chemicals were involved in 37.9% of cases, pharmaceuticals in 44.2%, bites and stings in 4.3% and poisonous plants in 1.2%. Substances most frequently involved were analgesics, cleaning products and antimicrobials. Clinical severity was moderate/major in 3.5%. Substances most frequently involved in moderate/major exposures were insecticides, drugs of abuse and corrosives. Eight fatalities were recorded - three unintentional exposures (all chemicals) and five intentional (chemicals, medications, drugs of abuse).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rates of poison exposures and poisonings in Israel have increased significantly, contributing substantially to morbidity and mortality. The IPIC database is a valuable national resource for collecting and monitoring cases of poison exposure and can be used as a real-time surveillance system. It is recommended that reporting to the IPIC become mandatory and that its activities be adequately supported by national resources.
authors.affiliation: Israel Poison Information Center, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel. d_bentur@rambam.health.gov.il
authors.forename: Yedidia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bentur
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lurie
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cahana
authors.forename: Ophir
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lavon
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bloom-Krasik
authors.forename: Nona
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kovler
authors.forename: Bella
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gurevych
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Raikhlin-Eisenkraft
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011039:Poison Control Centers; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012042:Registries; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult