title: [A retrospective study of intoxications admitted to the university hospital/UFJF from 2000 to 2004].
abstract: Poisonings may have their consequences minimized by the acquisition of knowledge concerning its etiologies, evolutions and means of prevention. In Brazil, the progressive increase of toxic emergencies justifies the acquisition and analysis of regional and decentralized data concerning toxic emergencies. The aim of this retrospective and descriptive study was to evaluate data on the toxicology occurrence registered at the University Hospital/UFJF from 2000 to 2004. Data were collected using a structured instrument which comprised: age range, gender, profession, average hospitalization time, etiology and possible reasons for the intoxication, drug categories, where the patients live and the most important exposure route to the poisonous agent. The possible relationship among the data was also examined. The profile found for poisoning in the 50 cases analyzed, was that accidents are more common from 0 to 5 years old (24%) and male gender (68%), the majority of the cases happened in the city of Juiz de Fora (78%) and oral exposure. The most important poisonous agents were found to be the psychotropics (60%). Definition of a profile helps promoting educative activities and expands poisoning prevention campaigns by public health agencies. Therefore, these facts strengthen the importance of an Information Service net to prevent and reduce intoxications and the irrational use of drugs.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Alimentos e Toxicologia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, 36036-900. icerosmoreira@oi.com.br
authors.forename: Cícero da Silva
authors.initials: Cda S
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.forename: Nádia Rezende
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Rita de Cássia Padula Alves
authors.initials: Rde C
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Marcos Roberto de
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Paula Beatriz
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Marangon
authors.forename: Priscila Larcher Carneiro
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Mário Lúcio
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Teixeira Júnior
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult