Acute poisonings with drugs. A review of the data collected at the National Poison Information Centre during the period 1991-1995.

An analysis of the files collected in the National Poison Information Centre reveals that drugs are the most frequent causes of acute poisonings (followed by pesticides and other chemical substances) not only in big cities but also in rural areas. Within the drug poisoning category, about 59% of the toxicological advice related to poisonings in children up to 14 years of age. The most frequent poisonings with drugs related to poisonings with sedative and psychotropic drugs, particularly those containing benzodiazepines, phenothiazine derivatives and tricyclic antidepressants.

Telephone toxicological information service on pesticide poisonings.

The problem of pesticide poisonings has been discussed with reference to the records of the toxicological information provided in 1993-1995 by the staff of the National Poison Information Centre and the physicians of the Clinic of Acute Poisonings in Lódź. Based on those data, pesticide poisonings occupy second place among the categories of chemical most frequently responsible for acute poisonings, while the first place is occupied by drugs. In the pesticide category, most of the information related to poisonings with pyrethroids, followed by organophosphorous compounds, coumarine derivatives, carbamates.

Poison Information Service of the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in Lódź. Types of toxicological inquiries 1991-1994.

The National Poison Information Centre and the physicians of the Clinic of Acute Poisonings, the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in Lódź, provide telephone toxicological information to the medical professions and the general public. The most frequently offered advice was for drugs, pesticides, solvents, corrosives and mixtures. The most frequent drug inquiries concerned tranquillizers, hypnotic and psychotropic drugs.

[Analysis of toxicological information rendered by the staff of the National Poison Information Center and physicians at the Clinic of Acute Poisoning of the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Lódź].

The article presents structure of toxicological information given by phone to the physicians involved in treatment of acute poisonings, private persons the services monitoring the working environment. The information comprises data on toxic effect on human organism, chemical composition, therapeutic procedure in acute poisonings as well as the data on hazards occurring in every day life. The consultations chiefly regarded poisonings with drugs, pesticides, alcohols, organic solvents and corrosive substances.

The National Poison Information Center in Poland.

Objective: To describe the national poison information program in Poland.

Results: There are nine regional poison information centers in Poland associated with acute poisoning wards or diagnostic laboratories. The National Poison Information Center in Lodz prepares information materials (ITOX database, books, periodicals, leaflets, posters) on treatment and prevention to regional and other health care units treating acute poisoning cases and to the general public.