Emergency department visits for carbon monoxide poisoning in LA.

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is preventable, yet it remains one of the most common causes of poisoning in the United States. This analysis was performed to estimate the number of emergency department (ED) visits in 2010 in Louisiana for all-cause (fire-related, non-fire, and unknown) unintentional CO poisoning. Results demonstrate approximately 1,696,746 total ED visits occurred in 2010. Among these, an estimated 116 individuals were diagnosed with CO poisoning (68 CO cases per million ED visits; 26.2 CO cases per million population). Emergency Department visits for CO poisoning occurred most frequently in the winter months. Caddo, Jefferson, and Orleans parishes had the highest numbers of CO poisonings in 2010. The most common symptoms included headache, hypertension, nausea, and dizziness. The ED database presented more cases of the most common CO poisoning cases (non-fatal) than previously used surveillance databases. This study demonstrated the utility and importance of ED data as a surveillance tool.

The childbearing experience during a natural disaster.

OBJECTIVE: To gain insight into the needs of pregnant women during Hurricane Katrina. DESIGN: Grounded theory using semistructured interviews. SETTING: Participants were recruited with flyers. Interviews were conducted in a location preferred by the participant. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Eleven participants were interviewed. All were pregnant during the storm, lived in an area affected by Hurricane Katrina prior to the storm, were between the ages of 18 and 49, and spoke English. METHODS: Qualitative interviews were performed and recorded, transcribed, and reviewed to organize the women's thoughts into categories. RESULTS: The core category was disruption of life during pregnancy, and four additional subcategories were destruction of normalcy, uncertainty, loss of expectations, and coping with disruption. CONCLUSION: The women relied on family and friends for support. Life in New Orleans for months after the storm was difficult due to unreliable information. Health care professionals that interact with pregnant women should move toward use of electronic medical records and educate women about coping with stress during pregnancy.

Characteristics of pesticide-related hospitalizations, Louisiana, 1998-2007.

OBJECTIVE: Pesticides are widely used on agricultural crops and in homes, workplaces, and public spaces. Exposure to pesticides can cause acute and chronic health effects. We analyzed data from the Louisiana Hospital Inpatient Discharge Database from 1998 through 2007 to characterize hospitalizations involving pesticides. METHODS: Data for the study period consisted of 384 pesticide-related hospitalizations. We used demographic information and diagnosis codes for analysis. RESULTS: Males consistently had higher hospitalization rates than females (p=0.0073). Children aged 0-4 years had the highest pesticide-related hospitalization rate of all age groups (2.69 hospitalizations per 100,000); children aged 5-9 years had the lowest rate (0.36 hospitalizations per 100,000). Compared with adults, children had a higher rate of disinfectant exposure (15% vs. 5%; odds ratio [OR] = 3.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.61, 7.21; p=0.0008) and rodenticide exposure (14% vs. 2%; OR=8.55, 95% CI 3.07, 23.78; p<0.0001). Rural parishes (counties) were more likely than urban parishes to have higher pesticide hospitalization rates (OR=4.72, 95% CI 2.34, 9.54; p<0.0001). Intentional poisonings accounted for 27% of cases. Only eight cases were coded as work-related. CONCLUSIONS: Analyzing pesticide-related hospitalization data provides important information about some of the most severe pesticide poisoning cases. Significant findings include the elevated rate of hospitalizations among young children and men, and the large proportion of self-inflicted poisonings. Health departments and health-care providers may use these findings to target outreach and prevention activities.

A historical perspective on the University of Nebraska Medical Center's College of Dentistry Class of 1961.

We conducted a retrospective analysis of the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) College of Dentistry (COD) Class of 1961 to glean information that might be useful in the design of dental education programs in Nebraska and elsewhere. We scanned annual class newsletters, demographic statistics for students entering the UNMC dental program for each decade from 1961 to 2001, and UNMC COD alumni data for patterns and themes among thirty-two dental professionals. Eighty-four percent of those contacted provided responses to a survey. We found that, like current dental cohorts nationwide, the UNMC COD Class of 1961 is mostly of European ancestry (non-Hispanic) and male. But in contrast to current dental college graduates, the UNMC Class of '61 were able to rely upon self-employment and spousal and/or military support (GI Bill) to cover the costs of their dental education. They also were more likely to enter dental school before completion of an undergraduate degree and have a substantial work history before entering the UNMC dental program. Although the most common reason for attending dental school related to independence and financial security, "time with family" and "family vacations" were the next most important reasons cited for becoming dental professionals. Among '61 graduates, the average number of years spent in the dental profession is thirty-seven years. Despite the notable changes in dental technology and the continual need for updating knowledge and skill, eight members of the UNMC COD Class of 1961 continue to practice dentistry. Most maintain contact with other class members, providing support to former classmates and maintaining an identity with their alma mater, the University of Nebraska.