J Korean Soc Emerg Med.
1998 Mar;9(1):148-153.
Clinical Analysis of Seizure Associated With Poisoning & Drug Overdose
Abstract
- Numerous drugs are known to cause seizures with therapeutic use or overdose. However, the relative frequency of such complications has rarely been studied, and little is known about the relationship of drug-induced seizures to eventual medical outcome. This study was performed to determine the causes and consequences of seizure associated with poisoning and drug intoxication. We analyzed about 786 cases of drug intoxication visited to Chung-Ang Gil hospital during recent 4 years from Jan. 1993 to Dec. 1996. The results were summarized as follows: 1. The total number of cases of drug intoxication was 786 and the most common drug of intoxication was antihistamines(291 cases, 36.3%); insecticides(113 cases, 14.7%); caustics(90 cases, 11.8%); herbicides(47 cases, 6.1%); NSAID(38 cases, 4.9%); rodenticides(36 cases, 4.6%); acetaminophens(34 cases, 4.4%); anticonvulsants(18 cses, 2.3%); neuroleptics(13 cases, 1.6%); hydrocarbons(9 cases, 1.2%); sympathomimetics(8 cases, 1.0%). 2. The leading causes of seizures were antihistamines(12 cases, 42.8%); insecticides(7 cases, 25.0%); sympathomimetics(3cases, 10.7%); neuroleptics(2 cases, 7.2%); others(4 cases, 14.3%). 3. Seizures associated with antihistamines were generally brief(11 cases, 92.0%) and uncomplicated(3 cases, 25.0%). 4. Seizures incidence by drug intoxication was relatively high in sympathomimetics(3 cases, 35.7%); and neuroleptics(2 cases, 15.4%). 5. Poisoning associated with seizure had relatively high risk compared with non seizure poisoning for medical complication.
