title: Poisoning in Israel: annual report of the Israel Poison Information Center, 2012.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Israel National Poison Information Center (IPIC), Rambam Health Care Campus, provides 24 hour telephone consultations in clinical toxicology as well as drug and teratogen information. It participates in research, teaching and regulatory activities, and also provides laboratory services.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report data on the epidemiology of poisonings and poison exposures in Israel.
  
  
  METHODS
  We made computerized queries and descriptive analyses of the medical records database of the IPIC during 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 31,519 poison exposure cases were recorded, a 157.6% increase compared with 1995. Children < 6 years of age were involved in 43.1% of cases; 74.0% of calls were made by the public and 23.7% by physicians; 74.8% of exposures were unintentional and 9.1% intentional. Chemicals were involved in 35.8% of all cases (single and multiple substances), pharmaceuticals in 48.8%, bites and stings in 3.8%, and plants and mushrooms in 1.6%. Substances most frequently involved were analgesics, cleaning products and antimicrobials. Clinical severity was moderate/major in 3.4%. Substances most frequently involved in moderate/major exposures were corrosives, insecticides and snake venom. Four fatalities were recorded; all were intentional exposures in adults (corrosive, medications, energy drink).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Poison exposures and poisonings have increased significantly and have contributed substantially to morbidity and mortality in Israel. The IPIC database is a valuable national resource for the collection and monitoring of poisoning exposure cases. It can be used as a real-time surveillance system for the benefit of public health. It is recommended that reporting to the IPIC become mandatory and its activities be adequately supported by national resources.
authors.affiliation: Rambam Health Care Campus, affiliated with  Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 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: Nona
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kovler
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bloom-Krasik
authors.forename: Bella
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gurevych
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Klein-Schwartz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000847:Annual Reports as Topic; D002648:Child; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000506:poisoning; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D011039:Poison Control Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011042:Poisons / Q000145:classification; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011634:Public Health; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000506:poisoning
chemical_list: D015386:Hazardous Substances; D011042:Poisons; D014118:Toxins, Biological