[Evaluation of acute poisonings due to chemical agents treated in an emergency department].
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study is to evaluate the epidemiological and toxicological characteristics of chemical exposures requiring Emergency Department consultation.


METHODS
Descriptive study of Hospital Emergency Department consultations between 2000 and 2008 derived from exposure to a chemical agent.


RESULTS
A total of 992 patients were included; the mean age was 42.7+18 years and 58.1% were female. The main causes were domestic accidents (67.3%), occupational accidents (14.8%), attempted suicides (11.2%) and incidents of violence (3.2%). There was a significantly greater proportion of females involved in domestic accidents and males in occupational accidents (p<0.05). The most-frequently involved products were caustic substances (39.9%), irritating gases (13.8%), detergents (12.3%), solvents (12%) and asphyxiating gases (9.5%). Hospital admission was necessary in 10.8% of patients and 10 deaths occurred (1%), with non-occupational accidents being more severe (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Exposures to chemical agents represent a high number of poisonings in Emergency Department. Domestic accidents, which mainly affect women and often involve caustic substances, are much more frequent than occupational accidents. The general prognosis is good and mortality is very low.
Pérez Guitían
Patricia
P
Sección de Toxicología Clínica, Servicio de Urgencias, Hospital Clínic, and Laboratorio de Bioestadística y Epidemiología, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Nogué Xarau
Santiago
S
Ríos Guillermo
José
J
Navas Tejero
Inmaculada
I
Alonso Viladot
Jose-Ramón
JR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
Evaluación de las intoxicaciones agudas por productos químicos atendidas en un servicio de urgencias.