Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 21, 2026
Author Spotlight: Assessing the Feasibility of Using Amplitude-Integrated EEG During Neonatal Transport
Published on: June 21, 2024
Paracetamol poisoning-related hospital admissions and deaths in Australia, 2004-2017
Rose Cairns1,2, Jared A Brown1,3, Claire E Wylie2
1NSW Poisons Information Centre, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW.
Objectives:
To assess the numbers of paracetamol overdose-related hospital admissions and deaths in Australia since 2007-08, and the overdose size of intentional paracetamol overdoses since 2004.
Design, Setting:
Retrospective analysis of data on paracetamol-related exposures, hospital admissions, and deaths from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare National Hospital Morbidity Database (NHMD; 2007-08 to 2016-17), the New South Wales Poisons Information Centre (NSWPIC; 2004-2017), and the National Coronial Information System (NCIS; 2007-08 to 2016-17).
Participants:
People who took overdoses of paracetamol in single ingredient preparations.
Main Outcome Measures:
Annual numbers of reported paracetamol-related poisonings, hospital admissions, and deaths; number of tablets taken in overdoses.
Results:
The NHMD included 95 668 admissions with paracetamol poisoning diagnoses (2007-08 to 2016-17); the annual number of cases increased by 44.3% during the study period (3.8% per year; 95% CI, 3.2-4.6%). Toxic liver disease was documented for 1816 of these patients; the annual number increased by 108% during the study period (7.7% per year; 95% CI, 6.0-9.5%). The NSWPIC database included 22 997 reports of intentional overdose with paracetamol (2004-2017); the annual number increased by 77.0% during the study period (3.3% per year; 95% CI, 2.5-4.2%). The median number of tablets taken increased from 15 (IQR, 10-24) in 2004 to 20 (IQR, 10-35) in 2017. Modified release paracetamol ingestion report numbers increased 38% between 2004 and 2017 (95% CI, 30-47%). 126 in-hospital deaths were recorded in the NHMD, and 205 deaths (in-hospital and out of hospital) in the NCIS, with no temporal trends.
Conclusions:
The frequency of paracetamol overdose-related hospital admissions has increased in Australia since 2004, and the rise is associated with greater numbers of liver injury diagnoses. Overdose size and the proportion of overdoses involving modified release paracetamol have each also increased.
More Related Videos
05:16Cutoff Value of Phase Angle by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis at Admission as a Prognostic Factor in Patients with Acute Heart Failure
Published on: June 10, 2025
06:46Competing-Risk Nomogram for Predicting Cancer-Specific Survival in Multiple Primary Colorectal Cancer Patients after Surgery
Published on: September 27, 2024
Related Concept Videos
00:59Hospitals-II
Nurses that work in...
01:28Hospitals-I
01:26Enhanced Elimination of Poison
Antidotes serve a crucial role in counteracting the effects of poison by inhibiting enzymes responsible for producing harmful drug metabolites. In some cases, these toxic metabolites can be neutralized by endogenous cosubstrates, which are maintained at specific concentrations to prevent interaction with cellular macromolecules and subsequent cell death.
Renal excretion is the...
01:14Prevention of Further Absorption of Poison
01:26Anticholinesterase Agents: Poisoning and Treatment
Irreversible agents form a strong bond with the cholinesterase enzyme, making it inactive. The breakdown of the phosphorylated enzyme is...
01:30Overview of Cell Death
Cell death was observed in the early 19th century, but there was no experimental evidence to prove it. In 1842, Carl Vogt first discovered cell death in a metamorphic toad; however, it was not termed ‘cell death.’ Scientists discovered different cell death pathways only in the...