Pattern of acute poisoning: a 12 month hospital study

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to determine the pattern of acute poisoning in an Iraqi general hospital. Out of a total 8359 medical admissions in one year, 314 patients [3.75%] were admitted on acount of acute poisoning. Self poisoning with drugs was responsible for about 85% of patients compared with about 14% for accidental and about 1% for homicidal poisoning. Benzodiazepine sedatives and hypnotics were found to occupy the leading place among drugs used for self poisoning followed by the analgesic antipyretic group of drugs in the second place. Most patients with self poisoning were young females in the second or third decades of life and some had a previous history of psychiatric illnesses [6%], or previous suicidal attempts [9%]. This study calls for action to introduce appropriate control measures to minimise the possibilities of drug abuse and prevent further increase in the problem of acute poisoning