Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
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To determine population-based firearm-related morbidity and mortality for Allegheny County, PA (population = 1.3 million), for the year 1994. ⋯ Firearm-related injury and death are a significant public health problem in Allegheny County. Although the crude mortality rate from firearms in the county is lower than the reported national rate, the observed rate for nonfatal injuries in the black youth of this community is the highest firearm injury incidence rate ever reported. Local surveillance of firearm-related injuries, including nonfatal events, is needed to more accurately demonstrate the magnitude of this problem.
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To determine the rate of clinically significant recurrence of symptoms in patients treated for anaphylaxis in the ED. ⋯ Recurrent anaphylactic reactions were rare, occurring in 3% of cases and without life threat in this patient population. Selective outpatient management of patients with severe anaphylactic reactions that promptly respond to therapy with complete, rapid resolution may be reasonable. Further study of this medical emergency is required to develop criteria to guide the choice of an outpatient disposition.