Intoxication-related fatalities in northern Germany

Schaper, Andreas; Renneberg, Babette; Desel, Herbert; Langer, Claus

doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2006.04.009

« Previous Next »European Journal of Internal Medicine
Volume 17, Issue 7 , Pages 474-478, November 2006

Intoxication-related fatalities in northern Germany

Andreas Schaper
- GIZ-Nord Poison Center of the Federal States of Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein, Georg August University, University Hospital, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37099 Göttingen, Germany
- Corresponding author. GIZ-Nord Poisons Centre (Giftinformationszentrum-Nord der Länder Bremen, Hamburg, Niedersachsen und Schleswig-Holstein), Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Georg August University, University Hospital, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany. Tel.: +49 551 19240; fax: +49 551 3831881.
Babette Renneberg
- Institute of Psychology, Freie Universität, Habelschwerdter Allee 45, 14195 Berlin, Germany
Herbert Desel
- GIZ-Nord Poison Center of the Federal States of Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein, Georg August University, University Hospital, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37099 Göttingen, Germany
Claus Langer
- Department of General Surgery, Georg August University, University Hospital, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37099 Göttingen, Germany

Received 8 November 2005; received in revised form 13 February 2006; accepted 3 April 2006.

Abstract

Background

Knowing what substances cause death in intoxicated patients is of medical, legal, and political relevance. Harmonized data documentation like TESS (Toxic Exposure Surveillance System) in the United States does not exist yet in Germany. However, the GIZ-Nord Poison Center in Göttingen issues an annual report that includes fatalities. The aim of this study was to obtain an overview of the substances resulting in fatal poisoning and to define risk factors.

Methods

In a retrospective study, all fatalities due to poisoning from January 1996 until March 2003 were analyzed.

Results

From 1996 to 2003, the GIZ-Nord Poison Center was consulted in 168,000 cases. There were 142 fatalities due to poisoning (0.08% of all consultations). In 79 cases, the lethal substance was a medical drug, mostly tricyclic antidepressants and cardiovascular drugs. Two immigrants of German origin from the former Soviet Union died after consuming Amanita mushrooms. Five elderly, disorientated patients died of respiratory failure due to aspiration of detergent products from soap or shampoo.

Conclusion

Three groups of patients with a high risk of dying from intoxication can be defined: (1) suicidal patients with access to tricyclic antidepressants or cardiovascular drugs, (2) immigrants from the former Soviet Union who mistake toxic German mushrooms for edible species, and (3) elderly, disorientated patients who ingest large amounts of soap or shampoo.

Keywords: Fatalities, Amanita mushrooms, Soap, Shampoo