[Intoxications in Children and Adolescents in Germany]. / Deutschlandweites Vergiftungsspektrum im Kindes- und Jugendalter.

BACKGROUND: In Germany, intoxications cause the bulk of emergencies in children, to be prevented or attenuated by preventive measures. Therefore, knowledge about intoxications is essential for pediatricians. The present work provides general and epidemiologic data about intoxications and most frequent categories and single toxicants. METHODS: Data of intoxications in children and adolescents from 6 German poison centers (2012-2016 and 2002-2016) were retrospectively analyzed. Categorical data are given as mean±standard deviation, most frequent toxicants as a score. RESULTS: Calls, especially from non-professionals, increased since 2002. Two third of intoxications occurred in small and pre-school children, more frequently in boys (50%) than girls (44%), in adolescents girls predominated (>60%).<14 years intoxications occur mainly at home, day care or school (>95%), in adolescents suicide attempts and abuse come to the fore (13%). 90% of the cases are asymptomatic or mild, with increasing symptoms at higher ages (adolescents 13% vs. small children 1%). Intoxications with drugs are predominantly in adolescents, surfactant containing cleaning agents and cosmetics, sanitary cleaner, tobacco, glow lights and solute descaler in children. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Increasing incoming calls from professionals and non-professionals point out the importance of the poison centers. Although intoxications in children and adolescents mainly proceed without or mild symptoms, the relevance of preventive measures especially for children<7 should not be underestimated.

[Poisonings in Germany : Poisons Centres, Medical Management and National Monitoring]. / Vergiftungen in Deutschland : Giftinformationszentren, medizinische Versorgung und nationales Monitoring.

BACKGROUND: Illnesses caused by exposure to extracorporeal artificial substances play a major role in emergency medicine, family medicine, and environmental medicine. OBJECTIVE: The current situation of medical poisoning management and national reporting of poisonings in Germany are described. MATERIALS UND METHODS: The information and data presented here are derived from a literature review and from stakeholder interviews. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Eight poison centres (PCs) offer consultation supporting the diagnosis and treatment of poisoning cases in Germany today. Furthermore, those affected, their relatives and first aiders contact these German PCs, mainly because of a suspected poisoning. German PCs are also contacted by those affected and by institutions in other situations when expert toxicological judgement is needed, especially in cases with an environmental background. Often, interpretation of analytical laboratory results of body fluid samples or environmental samples are requested, or reference to environmental medicine treatment facilities is made. The PCs and the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) cooperate on the national reporting of the risks of poisoning for the population. In addition, the BfR collects and evaluates poisoning reports from German medical doctors that have been directly submitted. A pilot project on a national monitoring of poisonings should collate future case reports. An extensive and current overview of poisonings in Germany is a prerequisite for the identification of unsafe products and to fully comply with the international reporting needs of the German Federal Government in the case of chemical outbreaks and the resulting suspected cases.

[Acute Monkshood Intoxication Requiring Acute Resuscitation in Suicidal Intent]. / Reanimationspflichtige akute Eisenhutintoxikation in suizidaler Absicht.

We report about an acute monkshood intoxication requiring acute resuscitation in suicidal intent in a 56-year-old patient. The Blue Monkshood (Aconitum napellus) is considered to be the most toxic plant in Europe. All plant parts contain the highly toxic alkonoid aconitin. The lethal dose in adults is 2 - 6 mg. Intoxications are often fatal. Asymptomatic patients with suspected monkshood intoxication should also be monitored on an ICU. First signs of intoxication are paraesthesia in the mouth and throat area, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting and severe pain in skeletal muscle. Affected patients die within hours after ingestion due to respiratory distress and/or cardiac arrhythmia.The most important measure after oral ingestion is to achieve a rapid primary poison elimination clearance (in the case of awareness clear patients, trigger vomiting, otherwise gastric lavage under protective intubation) and the subsequent carbonation. A specific antidote is not available. The management of an intoxication consists primarily of the therapy of the rhythm disturbances in the form of magnesium and amiodarone.Strict adherence to protective measures (gloves, masks) must be strictly observed. A direct skin contact with plant parts is to be avoided as well as the potential contact with vomit or aspirate.

Toxicity of antihypertensives in unintentional poisoning of young children.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge is limited about the toxicity of unintentional exposure to antihypertensives in young children (0-6 years of age). OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to research symptoms and poisoning severity in unintentional poisonings in this group of age and determine adequate poisoning management. METHODS: We performed a 10-year retrospective, explorative analysis of the Mainz Poison Center/Germany database with regard to circumstances of poison exposure, dosage, symptoms, and treatment. To be able to relate drug exposure with reported symptoms, analyses were restricted to single drug exposures. Written follow-up information was obtained in about 50% of all cases. RESULTS: A total of 1489 cases were analyzed, of which 957 were single drug exposures with 421 exposures to beta-blocking agents, 364 to inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system, 122 to calcium channel blockers, and 50 to antiadrenergic drugs. No severe (Poisoning Severity Score [PSS]=3) or fatal poisonings (PSS=4) were reported and, with the exception of atenolol, propranolol, irbesartan, isradipin, clonidine, and moxonidine, no poisonings with a PSS>1. We did not find a significant relationship between dosage, release formulation and symptoms, or PSS. All patients fully recovered without specific treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In young children with unintentional, single drug exposure to the most popular antihypertensive medication (i.e., metoprolol, bisoprolol, ramipril, enalapril, lisinopril, captopril, candesartan, valsartan, amlodipine, and verapamil), only mild symptoms occurred, and hospital evaluation is not a must. However, children with recent exposure to clonidine or moxonidine should be evaluated at a hospital due to an increased likelihood of poisonings of at least moderate severity.

[Carbon monoxide poisoning from indoor barbecues--incidents reported to the German-speaking Poison Information Centers and the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) in Berlin]. / Kohlenmonoxidvergiftungen durch Grillen in Innenräumen--Mitteilungen an die deutschsprachigen Giftinformationszentren und das Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung Berlin.

From 2008 to the end of 2009 the Joint Poison Information Center (PIC) in Erfurt observed 7 incidents involving 17 persons (1 fatality) with signs of carbon monoxide poisoning from indoor barbecues (COFIB). To find out whether COFIB is a regional or a general phenomenon in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, all information about COFIBs recorded by the 11 German-speaking Poison Information Centers and the BfR Berlin were retrospectively analyzed for the period 2000 to 2009. In all, 60 COFIBs (accidental: 90.0 %, suicidal: 8.3%, reason unknown: 1.7%) involving 146 individuals were reported. The number of incidents increased from one case with 2 persons in 2000 to 18 cases involving 34 persons in 2009. The 146 victims (female 26.7%, male 27.4%, gender unknown 45.9%; adults 58.2%, children 24.7%, age unknown 17.1%) lived in 15 of the 16 federal states of Germany and in Switzerland. The highest number of victims was found in Bavaria (23), Brandenburg (18), and Baden-Wuerttemberg (18). The symptoms according to the Poisoning Severity Score were none to mild in 60.3%, moderate in 13.7%, severe in 11.6%, fatal in 6.9% and unratable in 7.5%. No clear correlation was found between the carboxyhemoglobin concentration and the severity of the symptoms. As a rising number of COFIBs often involving several individuals was observed from 2000 to 2009, the general public was informed about the risks of indoor barbecues.

MAGAM II - prospective observational multicentre poisons centres study on eye exposures caused by cleaning products.

Objective: Local effects on the eye following cleaning product exposures are frequently reported. According to EU chemicals legislation many cleaning products are labelled with Hazard Phrase 318 indicating risk of irreversible eye damage. The objectives of this study were to identify cleaning products with potential for irreversible eye damage by collecting human exposure data from poisons centres (PC), and to clarify to what degree exact product identification is possible during a PC telephone call. Methods: MAGAM II was a multicentre binational prospective observational PC study. All human eye exposures to detergents or maintenance products reported to nine PCs taking calls from the public and medical professionals during an 18-month period were included. The severity of eye effects was rated according to the WHO Poisoning Severity Score. Results: Five hundred and eighty-six cases were included. Product identification by name leading to formula information was successful in 533 cases (91%). Follow-up was successful in 528 exposures. Irrigation was performed in 94% of cases. Duration of symptoms was ≥24 hours in 73 patients (25%). 33 (6%) patients developed moderate eye injury. Healing was reported in all cases. The percentage of moderate cases was highest in the group of drain cleaners (25%), toilet cleaners (18%) and oven cleaners (15%). Products intended for professional use caused relatively more moderate eye injuries than products also intended for consumer use. Conclusion: MAGAM II has shown that PCs are able to identify formulas in sufficiently high quality as needed for product-directed toxicovigilance. The results underline the potential of PC exposure case data for product safety monitoring. The results indicate that irreversible eye damage is very rare after cleaning product exposure.