title: Emergency department visits for carbon monoxide poisoning in LA.
abstract: Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is preventable, yet it remains one of the most common causes of poisoning in the United States. This analysis was performed to estimate the number of emergency department (ED) visits in 2010 in Louisiana for all-cause (fire-related, non-fire, and unknown) unintentional CO poisoning. Results demonstrate approximately 1,696,746 total ED visits occurred in 2010. Among these, an estimated 116 individuals were diagnosed with CO poisoning (68 CO cases per million ED visits; 26.2 CO cases per million population). Emergency Department visits for CO poisoning occurred most frequently in the winter months. Caddo, Jefferson, and Orleans parishes had the highest numbers of CO poisonings in 2010. The most common symptoms included headache, hypertension, nausea, and dizziness. The ED database presented more cases of the most common CO poisoning cases (non-fatal) than previously used surveillance databases. This study demonstrated the utility and importance of ED data as a surveillance tool.
authors: Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, Section of Environmental Epidemiology and Toxicology, USA.
authors: Adrienne
authors: A
authors: Katner
authors: Kate
authors: K
authors: Peak
authors: Mei-Hung
authors: MH
authors: Sun
authors: Roshan
authors: R
authors: Badakhsh
authors: Adrienne
authors: A
authors: Woods
authors: Shannon
authors: S
authors: Soileau
authors: Dianne
authors: D
authors: Dugas
mesh_terms: D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008145:Louisiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance