Author/Authors :
Achour, S. University Hospital - Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Fez - Laboratory of Toxicology, Morocco , Achour, S. Ibn Tofail University - Faculty of Science and Technology - Laboratory of Genetics and Biometry, Morocco , Rhalem, N. Ibn Tofail University - Faculty of Science and Technology - Laboratory of Genetics and Biometry, Morocco , Rhalem, N. Moroccan Poison Control and Pharmacovigilance Centre, Morocco , Elfakir, S. Faculty of Medicine of Fez - Laboratory of Epidemiology and Public Health, Morocco , Khattabi, A. Ibn Tofail University - Faculty of Science and Technology - Laboratory of Genetics and Biometry, Morocco , Khattabi, A. Moroccan Poison Control and Pharmacovigilance Centre, Morocco , Nejjari, C. Faculty of Medicine of Fez - Laboratory of Epidemiology and Public Health, Morocco , Mokhtari, A Ibn Tofail University - Faculty of Science and Technology - Laboratory of Genetics and Biometry, Morocco , Soulaymani, A. Ibn Tofail University - Faculty of Science and Technology - Laboratory of Genetics and Biometry, Morocco , Soulaymani, R. Moroccan Poison Control and Pharmacovigilance Centre, Morocco , Soulaymani, R. Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Rabat, Morocco
Abstract :
In Morocco, acute Atractylis gummifera L. poisoning represents the leading cause of death by plant poisoning especially for children. All cases received in the Moroccan poison control centre from January 1981 to December 2009 (n = 467) were included in a retrospective study of the characteristics and risk factors of A. gummifera L. poisoning The most vulnerable age group was children (63.4% of cases). Most cases were due to accidental exposure (75.5%), but some were from therapeutic use (18.1%) or attempted abortion (7.4%). Patients presented with moderate poison severity signs (grade 2) in 22.3% of cases or severe signs (grade 3) in 21.0%. The mortality rate was 39.2%. The majority of deaths (81.1%) occurred in children aged 15 years following accidental exposure. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that risk factors for mortality were coma (OR = 20.5); hepatitis (OR = 52.7) and rural residence (OR = 7.26), while gastric decontamination was a protector factor (OR = 0.26).
