Articles by Poisonology
The latest articles from the Poisonology Blog
When scorpions meet cats & dogs
Posted - 9/15/2010 at 10:02AM by Keith Boesen
What happens if your pet dog or cat is stung by a scorpion?Around two years ago, we at the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center did a study to learn more about pets with scorpion stings. We asked callers whose dog or cat had been on the receiving end of a scorpion sting if they would agree to...
Splash in pool - not the chemicals
Posted - 9/1/2010 at 2:24PM by Keith Boesen
Jumping into a swimming pool filled with cool, clear, sparkling water is especially refreshing on a hot, humid summer day. The attractive water can melt away heat and the cares of the day. But, keeping a pool in top shape takes plenty of determination and dedication. It also takes the cautious u...
'Eggs-amine' your food poisoning risk
Posted - 8/24/2010 at 6:00PM by Liz Barta
You no doubt know about the massive egg recall that started on Aug. 13. Salmonella infections causing food poisoning have been linked to certain brands of eggs. This post is to let you know where to find out whether you have these affected eggs, what to do if you have them and some information ab...
Herbals: Consider them drugs
Posted - 8/16/2010 at 2:38PM by Keith Boesen
It is always satisfying when callers have questions about drug interactions and general drug information because it shows that people are aware of their medication therapy. The other day I spoke with a caller who had a question about medications interacting with the supplement St. John's Wort. ...
Children's vitamins: Be cautious of iron
Posted - 7/13/2010 at 12:07PM by Keith Boesen
The following article was contributed by Ryan Burgess, a student at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy who completed a learning rotation at the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center. Here at the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center, we receive quite a few phone calls from c...
When the fluorescent bulb breaks
Posted - 5/19/2010 at 12:52PM by Ken Fey
Have you ever had a fluorescent bulb break at your house and wondered about the possible dangers? A few times per month we receive calls from people with similar worries about inhaling mercury fumes from the broken bulb. These light bulbs contain minimal amounts of mercury that should not cause any...
Hiking in snake country?
Posted - 5/12/2010 at 1:00PM by Keith Boesen
Recently I received an e-mail from a visitor to our website. It was so appropriate for this time of year. Maybe some of you have the same questions about hiking during rattlesnake season. Here is the question: "My brother in-law and I do a lot of one-day hikes. If we were about four hours from ou...
Kids' meds recalled; don't use these products
Posted - 5/4/2010 at 12:22PM by Liz Barta
At the poison center we are getting calls about the recall of certain over-the-counter medications. McNeil-PPC, Inc. announced this voluntary recall last Friday, April 30, 2010.I am including part of their press release here and recommend parents go to their recall website. The contact information ...
Ow! Ow! Ow! Stung by a scorpion
Posted - 4/27/2010 at 5:11PM by Keith Boesen
The weather is warming up quite a bit, and so is scorpion sting season! Maybe you will find yourself on the wrong end of a scorpion sting, as many of our recent callers to the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center have. Here's what you need to know if that happens. Pain from the sting of a ...
Scorpions: Constant desert companions
Posted - 4/27/2010 at 2:59PM by Keith Boesen
In Arizona, we have more than 40 types of scorpions, all of them with stingers and venom for catching prey to eat. Scorpions are also found in other states, but the Arizona desert has the Centruroides sculpturatus or bark scorpion. This scorpion is the only one in the United States considered medic...
Gila monsters don't want to bite you
Posted - 4/16/2010 at 1:47PM by Ken Fey
Recently we had a Gila monster bite victim consulting with us. It provoked me to write today's blog. The Gila monster is one of only three species of venomous lizards on the planet. They are non-threatening creatures who spend 95 percent of their lives in underground burrows. They come out occa...
Pregnant & sneezy? Tips about allergies
Posted - 4/15/2010 at 5:34PM by Keith Boesen
Sara Riordan, a genetic counselor for the Pregnancy Riskline, contributed this guest article for you moms-to-be who are pollen-sensitive. The Arizona Pregnancy Riskline is a statewide public service that provides accurate information to callers about possible effects a medication or substance may ...
Hop into Spring safely
Posted - 4/12/2010 at 3:41PM by Liz Barta
This time of year we often plant and nurture our gardens and do extra cleaning in our homes. The American Association of Poison Control Centers offers these tips for doing these satisfying activities safely. Pay attention to what plants are in your yard and garden.Some plants may be hazardous. Mak...
'Invisible' snakes bite, too
Posted - 8/4/2009 at 4:07PM by Liz Barta
Beware and use caution when you go outside in the desert Southwest. You can be bitten by a poisonous snake without having seen or heard the snake before it strikes. Rattlesnakes don't always shake their rattles before, during or after they bite us. If you go to our website, you can watch a video ...
Misusing drugs: recipe for disaster
Posted - 7/20/2009 at 2:21PM by Liz Barta
We don't know for sure yet what caused Michael Jackson's death. But speculation about the King of Pop's health and medication use has brought up again just how dangerous prescription medications can be when they are misused. Overdosing a prescription drug or combining multiple medications can and...
