Caracterización de la ingestión por sobredosis de paracetamol: Reporte de un centro de información toxicológica chileno / Characterization of paracetamol overdose: Report of a poison information center in Chile

Background: Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is an analgesic and antipyretic drug widely used across the world. Its ingestion is one of the most common causes of drug overdose. In the United States is the first cause of acute hepatitis in adults. Aim: To describe the epidemiological profile of paracetamol overdose in Chile. Material and Methods: Cross sectional retrospective study that included all the phone call inquiries received at the Poison Control Center of the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile (CITUC) during 2009. Results: Nine hundred fifty nine inquiries involving acute paracetamol exposures were received. Women represented a 63.1% of the cases. Half of the cases were suicide attempts, of which 74.8% were women. Accidental exposures occurred mainly in children. In 29.3% of the patients, the exposure was considered to involve a hepatotoxic dose. Women had 2.7 times the risk of men to ingest a toxic dose of paracetamol with suicidal purpose (Odds ratio (OR) = 2.7; 95% confidence interval (Cl): 2.1-3.6; p < 0.001). Adolescents had 3.4 times the risk of the general consultants (OR: 3.4; 95% Cl: 2.4-4.7; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Paracetamol overdose is common in Chile. Authorities should carry out preventive measures. Antidotes and the capacity to measure plasma levels of paracetamol should be available in healthcare centers.

Adverse drug reactions in children requiring hospital admission.

OBJECTIVE: To study the incidence of adverse drugs reactions (ADRs) in children admitted to Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH), Colombo. DESIGN: A prospective hospital based descriptive study. SETTING: Medical units of LRH, Colombo. METHODS: Information was collected by a hospital based investigator who visited the medical units at LRH from February to December 2002. The Naranjo algorithm was used to classify the information. REMARKS: During the 11 month study period, 63 admissions were due to ADRs, the commonest being secondary to administration of antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: ADRs accounted for only 0.16% of admissions as compared to about 2% in North America. The commonest ADRs were due to antibiotics.

epidemiological study of poisoning in northern Islamic Republic of Iran

We examined the causes and mortality of poisoning in the province of Mazandaran. In all, 1751 poisoning cases referred to four main hospitals over a three-year period [1997-2000] were included. More poisoning cases were females [55.5%] than males [45.5%] but the proportional mortality for males was greater than for females [65% versus 35%]. The greatest proportion of poisonings occurred between the ages of 16 and 25 years. Most frequent was intentional poisoning, followed by accidental and occupational poisoning. Medicines were the most common cause, followed by chemicals such as pesticides. Poisoning by opiates, aluminium or zinc phosphide, rodenticides, petroleum and ethanol intoxication was also observed. Pesticide poisoning was most frequently fatal

Drug overdose in the Asir region of Saudi Arabia

Fifty-seven cases of drug overdose, seen in Asir Central Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia, during the period from 1989 to 1993 inclusive were studied. The study has shown progressive increase in the number of parasuicides in recent years. Forty-six cases were diagnosed as self-induced drug overdose [parasuicide], while the remaining 11 were considered to be accidental overdose, mainly in children. The sociodemographic features of the sample showed that 89% of the parasuicide cases were among Saudis and that 77% of them occurred in females. Their average age was 23.9 +/- 9.1 years and 95.6% of them were below the age of 40 years. The commonly used drugs were analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and tranquilizers or antidepressants. Psychiatric illnesses were diagnosed in 74.4% of cases of parasuicide, with depressive illnesses constituting 39.5% and personality disorders the remaining 34.9%. Possible reasons for the recent increase of parasuicide by drug ingestion were discussed and the rates were compared with studies from the Gulf region and Western countries

Hospital admissions due to acute poisoning in the New Territories, Hong Kong.

To study the pattern of acute poisoning in the New Territories East of Hong Kong, 291 adult cases admitted to the Prince of Wales Hospital in 1989 were reviewed. The female-to-male ratio was 2.3 to 1 and the majority of patients (83%) were below the age of 40. The main poisons involved were hypnotics and sedatives (44.3%), household products (14.8%) and analgesics (10%). The poisoning was intentional in the majority of cases (98.6%). A specific antidote was necessary in 5.2% of cases. Four patients died after admission giving an overall mortality of 1.4%. When compared to the findings from other western countries, important variations in the pattern of acute poisoning were seen in Hong Kong. Firstly, a substantial proportion of drugs ingested were not dispensed labeled although their nature could usually be determined. Secondly, "Dettol", a household antiseptic, was commonly used in self-poisoning episodes. The lack of drug identification labeling on dispensed medicines outside hospitals is of great concern to all physicians in Hong Kong.