A retrospective study of poisoning in Tehran.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the causes and mortality of poisoning in Tehran.


METHODS
The 7000 poisoning cases referred to Loghman-Hakim Hospital in Tehran over six months in 1994 were evaluated retrospectively.


RESULTS
The overall female to male ratio was 1.8:1. Most poisonings occurred in the age range 2-6 y for children and 21-40 y for adults. Oral ingestion was the most common route of intoxication. In children, boys had a higher frequency of poisonings than girls. Most cases of children were referred to the hospital between 8 am and 8 pm. In adults referred to the hospital, there was little diurnal variation in poisoning presentations. In adults, drugs were the most common cause of intoxication (60.2%). Of these, benzodiazepines (24.5%) were the most frequent, followed by antidepressants (20.5%) and analgesics (18%). Pesticide and opiate intoxications were also commonly observed. In children, after drugs (32.1%), hydrocarbons were the most frequent cause of poisoning (19.2%). Pesticide poisonings were most often fatal (19.2%), followed by barbiturates (18.6%) and opiates (16.2%). Organophosphate insecticides were responsible for 57% of total pesticide poisoning cases. Of the deaths, 87.5% were attributed to suicide.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of poisoning cases in adults occur intentionally and in children accidentally.
Abdollahi
M
M
Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
Jalali
N
N
Sabzevari
O
O
Hoseini
R
R
Ghanea
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002423:Cause of Death; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000506:poisoning; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010575:Pesticides / Q000506:poisoning; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D010575:Pesticides