Postgraduate medical journal
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The case of a young woman is described who suffered from acute pancreatitis related to the ingestion of zinc phosphide. This unusual complication was successfully managed with conservative treatment.
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Letter Case Reports
Flavobacterium meningosepticum meningitis in an adult with acute leukaemia.
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Avoidable deaths from asthma continue, even in hospital. Since the management of acute severe asthma is often initiated in the Accident and Emergency department, it is crucial that staff there have adequate knowledge. ⋯ The median score was 10 (out of a possible 24) and the interquartile range 8-13. Further efforts are required to implement these guidelines so that the best patient outcomes can be achieved.
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Comparative Study
The risk of severe salicylate poisoning following the ingestion of topical medicaments or aspirin.
Apart from isolated reports of severe salicylate poisoning after ingesting an unusually large amount of a medicinal oil, there are no published data on the threat arising from attempted suicide with topical medicaments containing methyl salicylate or wintergreen oil compared with aspirin tablets. In this retrospective study, the admission plasma salicylate concentrations and clinical presentations were compared in 80 subjects who had taken aspirin tablets (n = 42) or topical medicaments (n = 38). ⋯ Because of its liquid, concentrated form and lipid solubility, methyl salicylate poses the threat of severe, rapid-onset salicylate poisoning. The toxic potential of topical medicaments containing methyl salicylate or wintergreen oil should be fully appreciated by both physicians and the general public.