Patients with Arthropod Bites and Stings Presenting to the Emergency Department: Clinical Features and Burden on the Emergency Department.

Background: There are few studies analyzing the epidemiological characteristics and clinical features of arthropod bites and stings, emergency department (ED) admission rate and cost burden. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical features and ED burden of such cases. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 954 patients who presented to ED after exposure to arthropods. The demographic and clinical characteristics, treatment rates, consultation and hospitalization requirements, and costs were evaluated. Results: The rate of presentation to the ED after exposure to arthropods was 0.36%. Among the identifiable insects, 25%, 22%, 5%, 3% and 1% patients were exposed to bees, ticks, scorpions, spiders, and centipedes, respectively. Of the included patients, 51% were male and the mean age was 39.4±14.8 years. Exposure to arthropods was most commonly seen in the summers (45%). Local and systemic toxicities developed in 11% and 1% of patients, respectively. Further examinations were requested in 50% of cases and 83% of cases received treatment. 4% of cases were hospitalized, and 21% were prescribed medicines.. The average cost per patient of exposure to spiders, scorpions, centipedes, ticks and bees were 45.5, 28.3, 17.3, 12.6, and 10.1 US Dollars, respectively. The total cost of ED for all patients was calculated as $12,694.65. Conclusion: We believe that a better understanding of the characteristics and prevalence of arthropod bites and stings will have a positive impact on primary prevention, health resource planning and reducing the burden on EDs by improving people's knowledge and practices to reduce the incidence of bites and stings.

Characteristics of the patients who admitted to the emergency department with seizures and the factors affecting the frequency of admission.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the features of patients applying to the emergency department (ED) with seizures and the factors affecting the frequency of admission. METHODS: This study was designed as a retrospective, cross-sectional study. The demographic and clinical characteristics, admission frequencies, diagnostic tests (laboratory and imaging methods) of the patients who were older than 18 years old and admitted to the ED between January 1, 2014 and January 1, 2017 with seizures were analyzed. RESULTS: The study included 867 patients with seizures. A comparison of the number of admissions by gender revealed a statistical significance (p=0.007). The number of admissions and the number of seizures until the time of admission were compared and found a statistical significance (p=0.002). In the logistic regression analysis of the factors affecting the frequency of admissions, seizure character [OR: 4.404 (%95 CI:1.761-11.015), p=0.002], comorbidity [OR: 2.021 (%95 CI:1.407-2.904), p<0.001], hospitalization [OR:1.893 (%95 CI: 1.259-2.847), p=0.002], concomitant injury [OR: 2.013 (%95 CI: 1.016-3.988), p=0.045], drug use (p<0.001), and possible etiology cerebrovascular disease (CVD) [OR: 2.763 (%95 CI: 1.327-5.752), p=0.007] were risk factors for frequent admission of patients applying to ED with seizures. CONCLUSION: Seizure character (first and known seizure), comorbidity status, hospitalization, concomitant injury, anti-epileptic drugs use, and possible etiology CVD are risk factors affecting the frequency of admission with seizure.