Poisoning Severity Scores of Cases with Mushroom Poisoning Presenting to the Emergency Department

Arif Alper Çevik; ilhami Ünlüoğlu; Nurdan Ergün; Adnan Şahin

Arif Alper Çevik¹, ilhami Ünlüoğlu², Nurdan Ergün¹, Adnan Şahin¹

¹Departments Of 1emergency Surgery, Medicine Faculty Of Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir
²Departments Of Family Care, Medicine Faculty Of Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study is the description of mushroom poisoning (MP) cases and evaluate their Poisoning Severity Scores (PSS), outcome and correlation with descriptive and clinical data.
Materials and Methods: Patients were evaluated for gender, age, presenting month, city of residence, first noticed and admission symptoms, vital signs, laboratory studies, disposition, hospitalization period, PSS when first symptoms noticed (PSS-1) and in the ED (PSS-2), and outcome.
Results: PSS-1 was found minor: 271 cases (88.3%), moderate: 33 cases (10.7%), severe: 3 cases (1%). PSS-2 was minor: 203 cases (66.1%), moderate: 77 cases (25.1%), severe: 27 cases (8.8%). The cases older than 65 years of age showed higher mortality and complication rate (p<0.05). Twelve of cases (3.9%) had fatal outcome, and 6 cases (2%) had complications. Seventeen of 18 of dead and complicated cases were categorized as minor in PSS-1. Minor grading in PSS-2 had less mortality and complication rates significantly.
Conclusion: We concluded that PSS grading in early period might mislead the clinicians and poison control center staff. Grading the PSS in the ED is more concordant method to predict clinical severity.