TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1994//
TI  - Caustic ingestion in adults--epidemiology and prevention
JO  - Journal of toxicology - clinical toxicology
A1  - Christesen, H. B.
SP  - 557
EP  - 568
VL  - 32
IS  - 5
N2  - A 16 year retrospective review identified 179 patients hospitalized for ingestion of caustic products in Aarhus County, Denmark. Seventy-five were adults over 15 years of age and residents of Aarhus County. The average annual incidence rate of hospitalization for caustic injury in adults was 1/100,000 with an incidence of esophageal burns of 0.8/100,000/y. Of the adults 61% attempted suicide: of these 61% were women. The annual incidence rate for adult women attempting suicide had an increasing trend (p = 0.048). Changes of the incidence rate for unintentional ingestions and for male suicide attempts were not significant. More than half of the suicide attempts were by patients with a history of a psychiatric illness. Of the caustics ingested by adults 94% were liquids. Acids accounted for 55% of the ingested products. Suicidal ingestion of hydrochloric acid was fatal in 6 of 12 adults. The inavailability of liquid caustics in the homes of patients at suicidal risk might prevent impulsive ingestion.<p /> <p>Language: en</p> 
LA  - en
SN  - 0731-3810
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -