title: Epidemiological analysis of poisoning cases in Van, Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the etiological and demographical characteristics of acute adult poisoning cases in eastern Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  The retrospective study was conducted at the Emergency Department of Yuzuncu Yil University, School of Medicine, and comprised data related to the period between 2007 and 2009. The data obtained included age, gender, referrals, manner of poisoning, manner of application, the department which followed up on the patients, duration of hospital stay. All data was noted on proforma. SPSS 15 was used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the total cases visiting the Emergency Department, 1207 (1.1%) related to poisoning. Of them, 880 (72.9%) had attempted suicide; 858 (71.1%) were female; 349 (29%) were male. The average age of the females was 25.4 +/- 8.5 years, and that of the males 28.3 +/- 14.3 years. Single-medicine was noted in poisoning 544 (45.1%) patients. Other poisoning types were multidrugs 373 (30.9%); rat poisoning, insecticide and pesticides, 145 (12%); corrosives 38 (3.1%); and weed, mushroomang; food 47 (3.8%). Oral poisoning was noted in 1141 (94.5%) cases. A total of 1019 (84.4%) patients received treatment and were followed up in the Emergency Department. Six (0.6%) patients died.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a need to generate more awareness about the hazards of domestic cleaning products and to keep it away at some distinct place to minimised chances of confusion.
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Sevdegul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karadas
authors.forename: Hayriye
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gonullu
authors.forename: Ahmet Cumhur
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Dulger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006795:Household Products; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult