According to World Health Organization (WHO) report of 2004, unintentional poisoning has caused more than 346,000 deaths worldwide. The proportion of death that occurs because of poisoning is 91% in low-middle income countries [3,4]. With respect to World Income classification, Pakistan falls under lowmiddle income countries of the world [5]. In Pakistan, because of scarcity of poisoning survei...

This prospective study was aimed to analyze the nature of and the factors associated with deliberate self-poisoning in children below the age of 12 years. Children referred to the Child Guidance Clinic for evaluation after recovery from the effects of poisoning during the five-year period between 1999 and 2003 formed the subjects of the study. The children were evaluated for stress factors, psy...

OBJECTIVE To analyze severe acute occupational poisoning accidents related to asphyxiating gases reported in China between 1989 and 2003, and to study the characteristics of severe acute occupational poisoning accidents and provide scientific evidences for prevention and control strategies. METHODS The data from the national occupational poisoning case reporting system were analyzed with desc...

BACKGROUND Deliberate self-poisoning is a major public heath issue in developing countries. In rural Sri Lanka deliberate self-poisoning is one of the leading causes of hospital death. The majority of patients with poisoning present to rural hospitals for initial treatment that are staffed by non-specialist and often relatively junior doctors. The treatment of self-poisoning patients poses nume...

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES The main cause of morbidity due to organophosphate poisoning is intermediate syndrome (Type II paralysis) that can occur 48-72 h after poisoning. Mechanisms that underlie the intermediate syndrome are not known. This study investigates the role of oxidative damage to muscles as a possible mechanism underlying the development of the intermediate syndrome. METHODS Ninete...

BACKGROUND Pesticides are identified as one of the dangerous poisons globally in children and are associated with increased short- and long-term morbidity. Pesticide poisoning is the most common method of self-poisoning among adults in rural Sri Lanka, and the clinical management is associated with significant healthcare costs to the country. There is however little data published on acute pest...

BACKGROUND Poisoning remains an important public health problem contributing significantly to the global burden of disease. Evidence on the exact burden and pattern of acute poisoning in Zambia is limited. We aimed to characterise acute poisoning with regard to demographic and epidemiologic factors of cases reported at the University Teaching Hospital and Levy Mwanawasa General Hospital; two la...

INTRODUCTION Analysis of the annual pesticide poisoning statistics of the Tygerberg Poison Information Centre (TPIC) for the period 2005-2007 showed an increase in the number of amitraz poisonings. This prompted a 2-year survey (2008-2009) to establish the extent of amitraz poisoning in South Africa. Amitraz is a pesticide used as a tick dip. It acts as an α(2)-adrenoceptor agonist and the prin...

BACKGROUND Acute poisoning is a major public health issue in many parts of the world. The epidemiology and the mortality rate is higher in low and middle income countries, including Sri Lanka. The aim of this study was to provide details about the epidemiology of acute poisoning in a rural Sri Lankan district and to identify the changing patterns and epidemiology of poisoning. METHODS A prosp...

BACKGROUND Acute poisoning incidents are one of the leading causes of morbidity and hospitalization in several countries. The purpose of this analysis was to compare the patterns of acute poisoning in three countries namely, Botswana, South Africa and Uganda; and examine the similarities and disparities in the patterns of occurrence of acute poisoning based on the sociodemographic factors of th...