Epidemiology of poisoning due to pharmaceutical products, Poison Control Centre, Seville, Spain

A retrospective study of telephone calls concerning poisoning due to pharmaceutical products, attended by the Toxicological Information Service in Seville (Spain), is presented. The years 1993 and 1994 were analized. Demographic data including the age and sex of the patient, route of exposure, cause, type of poisoning and the therapeutic group, was obtained. The great majority were cases of acute poisoning due to domestic accident, attempted suicide took second place. Ingestion was the principal route of entry, and more males than females were affected. 35.2% were children under two. In general, the medicines most frequently involved were those affecting the nervous system (28.1%)--principally analgesics, anxiolytics and antidepressants--followed by dermatological agents (13.7%)--such as antiseptics and disinfectants-and those affecting the respiratory (medicines to treat common cold, bronchodilators, antitussives) and digestive systems (laxatives, antiacids). It is hoped that with knowledge of data from as many poisons centres as possible, an improvement may gradually be seen in the prevention of the such poisoning in the future.