Clinical toxicology : the official journal of the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology and European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists
-
Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Jul 2019
Multicenter Study Observational StudyPoisoning with malicious or criminal intent: characteristics and outcome of patients presenting for emergency care.
Background: Poisoning is the leading cause of injury-related death in the USA. Poisoning with malicious or criminal intent is uncommon, and poorly characterized. Objectives: To explore substances, patients' demographics, clinical presentation, management and outcome in victims of malicious poisoning in the USA. ⋯ Children received more treatment interventions compared to adults (overall treatment 81% versus 46% [p = 0.0132]; mechanical ventilation: 29% versus 5% [p = 0.0176], respectively). Three (5%) patients died (two children, one adult). Conclusions: Poisonings with malicious intent are uncommon; they are disproportionally directed towards infants, frequently resulting in severe injury and carry relatively high mortality.