Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://ahro.austin.org.au/austinjspui/handle/1/11377
Title: The epidemiology of chemical eye exposures reported to the Victorian Poisons Information Centre.
Austin Authors: Sher, Loren M;Taylor, David McD ;Robinson, Jeff;Browning, Janet;Colbridge, Mark;Macleod, Dawson;McCracken, Hamish;McKenzie, Christine
Affiliation: Emergency Department, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia
Issue Date: 1-Dec-2012
Publication information: European Journal of Emergency Medicine : Official Journal of the European Society For Emergency Medicine; 19(6): 389-94
Abstract: We aimed to determine the epidemiology of chemical eye exposures reported to the Victorian Poisons Information Centre, Australia.This was a prospective case series comprising consecutive calls to the Victorian Poisons Information Centre that related to chemical eye exposures (January 2009-2010). Data included patient demographics, place and cause of exposure, nature of the chemical, symptoms and advice given. Patients were telephoned 48 h later to determine the outcome and whether the advice had been taken.One thousand four hundred and eighty patients were enroled (45.7%, aged <16 years) with 937 (63.3%) followed up. Cleaning agents (32.6%), topical personal products (25.4%), industrial agents (11.8%), herbicides/pesticides (5.7%), petroleum products (4.2%) and miscellaneous agents (20.3%) comprised the exposure groups. Men were exposed to significantly more industrial agents (74.8 vs. 25.2%) and fewer topical personal agents (31.3 vs. 68.7%) than women, (P<0.001). Children were exposed to significantly more topical personal agents (65.2 vs. 34.8%) and fewer industrial agents (28.7 vs. 71.3%) than adults (P<0.001). The median time between exposure and the call for advice was significantly shorter for children (P<0.001). Eight hundred and ten (54.7%) patients were advised that medical care was not required. The remainder were advised to seek care or were already receiving care. At follow-up, only 63 (6.7%) patients were symptomatic. Eight hundred and fifty patients (90.8%) had complied with the advice given. There were no compliance differences between men/women and children/adults (P>0.05).Most exposures are of little consequence. However, there are clear epidemiological differences between sex and age groups. These findings will help inform prevention strategies.
Gov't Doc #: 22113167
URI: https://ahro.austin.org.au/austinjspui/handle/1/11377
DOI: 10.1097/MEJ.0b013e32834e912a
Journal: European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22113167
Type: Journal Article
Subjects: Adolescent
Adult
Age Distribution
Aged
Child
Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
Emergencies
Eye Injuries.chemically induced.epidemiology
Female
Household Products.classification.poisoning
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pesticides.classification.poisoning
Pharmaceutical Preparations.classification
Poison Control Centers.statistics & numerical data
Poisoning.diagnosis.epidemiology
Sex Distribution
Therapeutic Irrigation.statistics & numerical data
Victoria.epidemiology
Young Adult
Appears in Collections:Journal articles

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