Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #115610

Ann Marie Petersen, MPH and Geoffery M. Calvert, MD, MPH. NIOSH/CDC, CDC-NIOSH, 4676 Columbia Parkway, MS R-17, Cincinnati, OH 45226, 513-841-4123, cqz2@cdc.gov

Background: In June 2004, CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) was notified by the Washington State Department of Health (WSDH) regarding illnesses from unintentional lindane ingestions. Cases inadvertently consumed lindane, an organochlorine pesticide used to treat pediculosis and scabies, due to its similar packaging as cough syrup. National surveillance data was used to assess the magnitude of illness associated with unintentional lindane ingestions. Methods: Individuals who accidentally consumed lindane were identified from the Sentinel Event Notification System for Occupational Risk (SENSOR) and the Toxic Exposure Surveillance System (TESS) from 1998-2003. Cases were classified as definite, probable, possible, or suspicious based upon health effects and evidence of lindane ingestion. Results: There were 842 symptomatic cases of unintentional lindane ingestion reported. Fourteen were identified from SENSOR and 828 from TESS. Among SENSOR cases, median age was seven years, 64% had low severity, and health effects included vomiting (71%), nausea (50%), headaches (28%), and seizures (28%). Among TESS cases, median age was 13 years, 91% had low severity, and health effects included vomiting (61%), throat/oral irritation (20%), and nausea (19%). Unintentional lindane ingestions were more likely to lead to illness compared to unintentional ingestions involving alternative pediculosis medications (OR=3.44, 95% CI=2.96, 4.01). Conclusion: To reduce risk of lindane ingestion, clinicians should be warned of lindane toxicity and advised not to prescribe it until other treatments have failed or are intolerable. Lindane should be dispensed in single-use containers of 1 or 2 ounces that do not resemble oral medication containers.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of this session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to list prevention interventions to reduce the risk of unintentional lindane ingestion.

Keywords: Surveillance, Workforce

Related Web page: www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/pesticides

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.