Pattern and determinants of poisoning in a teaching hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The Drug and Poison Information Center (DPIC) at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was founded in 1983. Since then it has responded adequately to queries from medical and non-medical callers from all over the Kingdom. Queries ranged from simple material identification to poisoning cases.

To assess the pattern and circumstances of poisoning in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through reviewing data from DPIC in King Khalid University hospitals.

This is a retrospective study of referred cases and calls received by DPIC. All records and documentation forms during the study period were investigated.

This study included 1161 cases. There were 7.9% infants, 52.9% under 5 years old, 7.2% between 6-12 years old and 32.0% more than 12 years old. Number of males with toxic exposure was almost equal to that of females. More than 92% of cases were toxic exposure through oral route. Causes of poisoning include drugs among 76.7% of cases followed by household chemicals (6.8%). Suicidal intention was reported among 25.6% of cases. Using multivariate regression analysis, significant predictors of suicidal attempts are more than 12 years old, patients who were exposed to more than one toxin and patient who came to the hospital within 1-3 h since poisoning.

Establishing and operating DPIC centers throughout the kingdom, in addition to implementing of legislations to ban over the counter selling of medications and to sell potentially dangerous chemicals in childproof containers.