SC AgMed Program
|
Hospitalized Pesticide Poisonings Decline in
South Carolina, 1992 - 1996
(Caldwell ST, Barker M, Schuman SH and Simpson WM Jr. Hospitalized
pesticide poisonings decline in South Carolina, 1992 -1996. J SC Med
Assoc 1997; 93(12): 448-452.)
Abstract: This report is the most recent in a series of investigations
that documents the prevalence and trends of hospitalized pesticide poisoning
in South Carolina by individual chart review. There were 112 hospitalizations
for pesticide poisoning from 1992 - 1996 averaging 22 cases per year.
Accidental poisonings in adults accounted for 51 percent of the total,
intentional ingestions represented 40 percent, and occupationally related
cases accounted for eight percent. A decline in the average number of
cases hospitalized each year continued over a 25-year surveillance period.
The shift from occupationally related cases to those involving accidental
ingestion among children and suicide attempts among adults was confirmed.
Outpatient emergency room visits numbered 256 (51 cases/year); two-thirds
being children (4 years of age or younger). The current ratio of outpatient
to inpatient hospital care for pesticide poisonings is calculated at
3.3 to 1.0 which also reflects a decline over a 25-year surveillance
period.
112 Hospitalized Pesticide Poisonings in South Carolina
by Exposure Category, 1992-1996
|
Exposure
Category
|
Hospitalizations (n)
|
Total
n (%)
|
|
1992
|
1993
|
1994
|
1995
|
1996
|
|
Occupational:
Agricultural
Other |
1
0
|
2
1
|
4
0
|
0
0
|
1
0
|
8 (7)
1 (1)
|
|
Non-Occupational:
Adult
Child |
6
4
|
2
7
|
8
8
|
4
2
|
6
10
|
26 (23)
31 (28)
|
| Intentional |
5
|
8
|
7
|
11
|
14
|
45 (40)
|
| Undetermined |
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1 (1)
|
| Total |
16
|
21
|
27
|
17
|
31
|
112 (100)
|
25-Year Surveillance of Hospitalized Pesticide Poisonings
in South Carolina, 1971-1996
|
Parameters
|
Study
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
| Time Period |
'73-'73
|
'79-'82 |
'83-'87
|
'88-'91 |
'92-'96
|
| Years (n) |
3
|
4
|
5
|
4
|
5
|
| Hospitals (total/participated) |
76/73
|
74/73
|
76/75 |
75/74
|
69/62
|
| Cases (n) |
117
|
314
|
312
|
187
|
112
|
| Average cases / year (n) |
39
|
79
|
62
|
47
|
22
|
| Deaths (n) |
0
|
7
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
| % Occupational |
37
|
25
|
20
|
12
|
8
|
| % Non-occupational:
% Child
% Adult |
42
31
11
|
53
37
16
|
50
30
20
|
59
34
25
|
51
28
23
|
| % Intentional |
18
|
16
|
27
|
29
|
40
|
256 Emergency Room Visits (Non-Hospitalized) for Pesticide
Poisonings in South Carolina by Exposure Category, 1992-1996
|
Exposure
Category
|
Emergency Room Visits (n)
|
Total
n (%)
|
|
1992
|
1993
|
1994
|
1995
|
1996
|
| Occupational:
Agricultural
Other
|
0
2
|
1
0
|
1
0
|
2
1
|
1
1
|
5 (2)
4 (2)
|
|
Non-Occupational:
Adult
Child
|
4
11
|
6
28
|
15
44
|
15
41
|
12
43
|
52 (20)
167 (65)
|
| Intentional |
1
|
6
|
4
|
3
|
8
|
22 (7)
|
| Undetermined |
2
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
6
|
9 (4)
|
| Total |
21
|
42
|
64
|
62
|
67
|
256 (100)
|
|
