Die toksikologiese telefoniese konsultasies gerig aan die Departement Farmakologie van die Universiteit van die Vrystaat gedurende 1998

Abstract

Background: Epidemiologic surveys of poisonings as well as inquiries regarding poisonings are necessary to obtain information for the combating as well successful medical management of poisonings.

Methods: All telephonic consultations regarding poisonings from I January 1998 to 31 December 1998 of two of the four consultants of the toxicology centre of the Department of Pharmacology at the University of the Free State were studied retrospectively. Information was noted on a coding form from the consultation forms of the consultants.

Results: 994 consultations were included in the study. Most consultations were on Mondays (20.7%), after hours (68.6%) and by general practitioner: (33.7y;) and registrars (32.1%). Of the inquiries 58.4% was with regard to intentional intake. Medications were responsible for 55.7% of inquiries, followed by household products (27.6%) and agricultural products (10.4%). Paracetamol (10.9%) was the most common medication, followed by benzodiasepine (9.97.) and organophosphate (8.7%). Central nervous system medications were involve d in 23.3% of the inquiries, and pain medication in 15.9%.

Conclusion: Undergraduate and postgraduate training of doctors should place sufficient emphasis on the most common types of poisonings and medication over-dosages.