ABSTRACT
During the period of January 1983 to December 1986, there were 190 adult admissions to medical wards at Basrah AI-Jumhori Hospital as a result of acute poisoning [0.73% of total medical admission]. The overall male to female ratio was 1: 1.92 and about two thirds of patients were less than 20 years of age. Admissions were more common in the summer months and in 70% of poisoning cases, medicinal preparations were involved. Benzodiazepines were the main agents [22%], followed by analgesics [17.4%], while gases [5.8%] and organo-phosphorus compounds [4.7%] were the main non-medicine offenders [10.5%]. Patients who have ingested more than one substance accounted for 15. Poisoning was accidental in only 10.5%. High percentage of patients [42%] were given forced diuresis as a treatment and 18.4% had psychiatric assessment prior to discharge. The majority of patients were discharged in less than three days with an inpatient mortality mounting to 1.6%