A carbon monoxide poisoning epidemiology in sacrifice vacation

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency and characteristics of carbon monoxide poisonings in emergency department during sacrifice vacation which is a religious holiday.
Material and Method: This is a retrospective, clinical study. Patients charts of carbon monoxide poisoning patients presented to our tertiary care emergency department over a 4 days religious vacation period. Data were recorded in SPSS chart and demographics were calculated. Results: Two hundred and twenty seven patients presented to the emergency department during the vacation period. Among these patients, nineteen patients (7.6%) were diagnosed as carbon monoxide poisoning. Two patients hadalready been died when they presented to the emergency department. Three patients were consciousness when they were found in their home. Fourteen patients had nonspecific symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, weakness. The mean of Glasgow coma scale was 12.22 (1-15). Three patients were admitted to the hospital. The diagnoses of admitted patients were cerebral ischemia, right atrial thrombus, pulmonary embolus and anemia related to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Conclusion: As the people usually spend more time at home as a part of their tradition in religious vacations comparing casual days, they should be warned about potential CO poisoning if the season is winter. Doctors working in the EDs should be aware of different presentation of CO poisoning such as thromboembolic disorders and anemia.