Epidemiology of organophosphate pesticide poisoning in Taiwan.

TitleEpidemiology of organophosphate pesticide poisoning in Taiwan.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2008
AuthorsLin TJih, Walter FGardner, Hung DZong, Tsai JLian, Hu SChuan, San Chang J, Deng J-F, San Chase J, Denninghoff K, Chan HMan
JournalClin Toxicol (Phila)
Volume46
Issue9
Pagination794-801
Date Published2008 Nov
ISSN Number1556-9519
KeywordsAdolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Antidotes, Atropine, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Middle Aged, Organophosphate Poisoning, Pesticides, poison control centers, poisoning, Pralidoxime Compounds, Retrospective Studies, Suicide, Attempted, Taiwan
Abstract

<p><b>INTRODUCTION: </b>The nationwide epidemiology of organophosphate pesticide (OP) poisoning has never been reported in detail for Taiwan.</p>

<p><b>METHODS: </b>This study retrospectively reviewed all human OP exposures reported to Taiwan&#39;s Poison Control Centers (PCCs) from July 1985 through December 2006.</p>

<p><b>RESULTS: </b>There were 4799 OP exposures. Most OP exposures were acute (98.37%) ingestions (74.50%) of a single OP (80.37%) to attempt suicide (64.72%) in adults (93.25%). Males were the most common gender (64.95%). Most patients (61.97%) received atropine and/or pralidoxime. The mortality rate for all 4799 OP exposures was 12.71%. Exposures to single OPs without co-intoxicants caused 524 deaths; of these, 63.36% were due to dimethyl OPs.</p>

<p><b>CONCLUSION: </b>Dimethyl OPs cause the majority of deaths in Taiwan.</p>
DOI10.1080/15563650801986695
Alternate JournalClin Toxicol (Phila)
PubMed ID18608266
Faculty Reference: 
Kurt Denninghoff, MD
Frank G. Walter, MD, FACEP, FACMT, FAACT
Weight: 
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