INTRODUCTION Human contact with potentially toxic plants, which may occur through abuse or by accident or attempted suicide, is frequent and sometimes results in clinically significant toxicity. OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to identify which plants may lead to severe poisoning, and to define the clinical relevance of plant toxicity for humans in Switzerland. METHODS We analyze...

This study analysed medical record data from seven regional hospitals in Queensland to determine the types of medical conditions and injuries that resulted in overseas and interstate tourists being admitted to hospital. From a total of 135,128 admissions to the participating hospitals, 695 (0.51 per cent) were identified as overseas tourists and 3479 (2.57 per cent) were from interstate. The ma...

In 1997, the Ministry of Health Malaysia introduced a surveillance programme for occupational and work-related diseases including poisonings for cases seen in government health facilities. Between June 1997 and November 1998, there were 36 cases of respiratory disease and 95 cases of poisoning by chemicals and pesticides notified while skin diseases were 108 cases. Respiratory diseases reported...

During a few recent years the cases of Salmonella food poisonings have been steadily growing in Poland and some other countries, and S. Enteritidis has been responsible for over 50% of the food-borne outbreaks. Food products containing raw eggs were the main sources of these poisonings (Mead et al., 1999; Centers for Disease Control., 2000; Radkowski, 1995, 2001). Although some strains of salmo...

BACKGROUND Lead stabilizers (e.g., lead sulfate, lead stearate) are common additives in plastics used in electrical devices. In 1997, three plastics compounders at one California company were severely lead-poisoned. METHODS The poisonings were investigated by interviewing the workers, employer, and treating physician and reviewing medical records and environmental monitoring results. In addit...