A Study of Pharmaceutical Drugs Poisoning Cases Admitted to the National Poisoning Center, Kasralainy Teaching Hospital in Cairo

Abstract

Aim: There is a necessity to identify the specific therapeutic drugs most frequently responsible for the acute medicinal poisoning to take up appropriate preventive efforts and management. Materials and Methods: This study included all cases of medicinal poisoning exposures (7282 cases) presented to the emergency Department of The National Poisoning Center, Cairo University, during the period January 2016 to December 2016. The data were statistically analyzed to assess a correlation between gender, age, and most frequently seen agents. Results: Therapeutic drugs (68%) were the most common cause of poisoning. It was found that 53% of medicinal poisoning patients were adults. Accidental drug agents poisoning in children younger than 4 years represented 20% of the medicinal poisoning cases. Of the patients with medicinal poisoning 74% were female and 26% were male. Detailed information on categories of drugs causing medicinal poisonings was presented. Paracetamol (9.6%), nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs (9.6%) and sedatives/hypnotics (10.7%) were the most common drugs causing medicinal poisoning. Conclusion: Female gender and young age are the risk factors of medicinal poisoning. The majority of poisonings is intentional poisoning in female adults. An important concern should be raised towards availability of prescription medications within the reach of children.