SC
AgMed Program
|
Hospitalizations and Emergency Room Visits for Acute
Pesticide Poisonings in South Carolina, 1997 - 2001
(Simpson WM Jr., Schuman SH, Caldwell ST, and Spell LH. Hospitalizations
and Emergency Room Visits for Acute Pesticide Poisonings in South Carolina,
1997 - 2001. J SC Med Assoc 2004; 100(2): 39-42.)
Introduction: This is the sixth in a series of investigations documenting
the prevalence and trends in hospitalizations and emergency room visits
for pesticide poisoning in South Carolina. There were 148 hospitalizations
for pesticide poisoning in the state from 1997-2001, averaging 29.6 cases
per year. Accidental, non-occupational poisoning in adults and children
accounted for 50% of the total number. Intentional ingestion accounted
for 40% and occupationally related cases for 2%. Seven percent of hospitalized
cases could not be classified due to lack of data. Annual hospitalizations
have varied from nearly 80 per year in the early eighties to 22.4 per
year in the previous report period (1992-96). There was only one death
due to pesticide poisoning recognized during this five year period.
The previously recognized shift from occupationally-related cases to accidental
ingestion by children and suicide attempts in adults was again confirmed.
The ratio of outpatient to inpatient hospital care for pesticide poisonings
was 5.8 to 1.0.
Hospitalized Pesticide Poisonings in South Carolina
by Exposure Category, 1997-2001
|
Exposure
Category
|
Hospitalizations (n)
|
Total
n (%)
|
|
1997
|
1998
|
1999
|
2000
|
2001
|
| Occupational:
Agricultural
Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Non-Occupational:
Adult
Child |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Intentional |
12 |
10 |
13 |
12 |
13 |
60 (40) |
| Undetermined |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
11 (7) |
| Total |
20 |
23 |
29 |
39 |
37 |
148 (100) |
Emergency Room Visits (Non-Hospitalized) for Pesticide
Poisonings in South Carolina by Exposure Category, 1997-2001
|
Exposure
Category
|
Emergency Room Visits (n)
|
Total
n (%)
|
|
1997
|
1998
|
1999
|
2000
|
2001
|
| Occupational:
Agricultural
Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Non-Occupational:
Adult
Child |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Intentional |
13 |
14 |
22 |
17 |
15 |
81 (9) |
| Undetermined |
4 |
23 |
15 |
36 |
16 |
94 (11) |
| Total |
163 |
200 |
164 |
203 |
135 |
865 (100) |
30-Year Surveillance of Hospitalized Pesticide Poisonings
in South Carolina, 1971-2001
|
Parameters
|
Study
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
| Time Period |
'73-'73
|
'79-'82 |
'83-'87
|
'88-'91 |
'92-'96
|
'97-'01
|
| Years (n) |
3 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
| Hospitals (total/participated) |
76/73 |
74/73 |
76/75 |
75/74 |
69/62 |
72/72 |
| Cases (n) |
117 |
314 |
312 |
187 |
112 |
148 |
| Average cases / year (n) |
39 |
79 |
62 |
47 |
22 |
30 |
| Deaths (n) |
0 |
7 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| % Occupational |
37 |
25 |
20 |
12 |
8 |
2 |
|
% Non-occupational:
% Child
% Adult |
11 |
16 |
20 |
25 |
23 |
22 |
| % Intentional |
18 |
16 |
27 |
29 |
40 |
40 |
|
