Study Title:
Carbon monoxide poisoning, a diagnosis frequently overlooked
Authors:
Barret, L., Danel, V., Faure, J.
Date:
1985
Journal:
Clinical Toxicology, 23 (4), pgs. 309-313.
Abstract:
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a common source of poisoning, yet the diagnosis is often overlooked. A study was undertaken to establish the true incidence of missed diagnosis and to assess retrospectively the effects of a campaign of public medical information on this subject. The wrong diagnoses reflected all the unusual clinical presentations that CO could produce. The high initial rate of wrong diagnoses (30% in 1975-1977) was reduced following the campaign (12% in 1978 and 5% in 1980) despite a considerable increase in the rate of admission to hospital of confirmed CO poisoning cases.
Location of Authors:
Grenoble, France
Note: - Some unpublished studies on this subject have found rates of misdiagnosis of CO poisoning by physicians of up to 100% (ie. ALL the cases were missed - judged to be due to something else).
Why not Better Recognized by the Medical Profession?