Journal of Clinical Toxicology
Open Access

Abstract

Analyses of Etiologic and Sociodemografic Properties of the Intoxicated Cases in Van City and its Environs

Ahmet Cumhur Dulger, Sevdegul Karadas, Hayriye Gonullu, Enver Aytemiz, Irfan Aydin and Imdat Dilek

The purpose of this retrospective hospital-based study was to evaluate clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of acute poisoning cases. All poisonings cases admitted to the emergency department of the Yuzuncu Yil University Training Hospital, Van, Turkey, between June 1999 and May 2005, were evaluated in the study. Etiologic and sociodemografic properties of the intoxicated cases were investigated.

There were males 32.6 % and females 67.3 % in the study. 74.6 % of the cases were suicidal and 25.4 % of them accidental. The highest suicidal attempts were seen in the age group 16-25 years and were mostly occurred during spring. The vast majority of the suicide attempters were also young females. Central nervous system drugs (21.8%), carbamates (17.1%), analgesics (10.3%) and organophosphorus components (10%) were most used agents among intoxicated patients. Half of the patients was treated and released from emergency department without hospitalization. Only 6.4% of the cases admitted to critical care. The percentage of the cases that need intensive care unit was highest in central nervous system drugs. Mortality rate was 1.6% and was mostly due to opioid and organophosphorus-related poisonings.

Based on the study it was suggested that there was a greater incidence of suicide attempts in younger females. Organophosphorus and carbamate containing chemicals are major causative agents for intoxications particularly in females.