Clinical analysis of 418 acute CO poisoning cases

Objective To understand the characteristics and high risk factors associated with carbon monoxide poisoning in patients of Dongguan and provide reference for making preventive and treatment measures.Methods There acute carbon monoxide poisoning cases hospitalized in Dongguan from January 1998 to December 2005 were systematicly and retrospectively analyzed.Results There were 418 carbon monoxide poisoning patients including 158 males and 260 females with the average age of 24.76±10.23 years old,the patients mainly concentrated in the age group of from 21 to 30 years old,accounted for 42.11%.The poisoning accident main occurred to workers from outside of Dongguan City,accounted for 63.40%.The main causes of poisoning was due to indoor mechanical disorder of gas heaters,accounted for 84.93%.In the last 8 years carbon monoxide poisoning showed an increasing tendency with an annual increase of 108%.Most of the poisoning accidents occurred in winter and summer in this area,accounted for 93.78%.The rates of light moderate and server poisoning were 49.52%,38.04% and 12.44%.94.50 % of them received hyperbaric oxygen treatment.The average duration of hospitalization was 4.26 days.85.65% of the them were cured,1.20% died and delayed encephalopathy due to acute carbon monoxide poisoning occurred to 5.74% of the patients.Conclusion Obvious characteristics,such as poisoning sources,occupation,age,sex,etc.were observed in acute carbon monoxide poisoning patients.Effective measures including health propaganda and preventive measures be carried out to control the occurrence of acute carbon monoxide poisoning.