title: Intentional and accidental paracetamol poisoning in childhood - a retrospective analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Paracetamol is one of the most commonly used analgesics and antipyretics available without limits as preparations of the OTC group (over the counter drugs). Overdose and poisoning with this drug always brings about the risk of acute hepatic failure. The objective of the study was a retrospective evaluation of patients hospitalized in the Paediatric Clinic during the period 2004-2012 due to poisoning with paracetamol.
  
  
  METHODS
  The analysis covered 44 patients hospitalized in the Paediatric Clinic during 2004-2012 due to poisoning with paracetamol. Patients were divided into three groups: intentional poisonings, accidental poisonings, and drug overdose.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the period of the study, 44 patients aged 2.1-17.1, poisoned with paracetamol, were hospitalized. Among these patients there were 30 (68.2%) cases of intentional poisonings, 10 (22.7%) of accidental poisonings, and only 4 patients (9.1%) were children hospitalized after a paracetamol overdose. The majority of patients in all groups were females (93.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Paracetamol intoxication may occur after exceeding a single allowable dose, in the case of intentional poisoning, more rarely after exceeding the daily dose, in the case of intense pain complaints, or in the treatment of persistent fever. Based on the analysis performed, an increase was observed in the frequency of poisoning with paracetamol, especially intentional poisoning. Unlimited access to paracetamol as an OTC drug should be reconsidered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Medical University of Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kominek
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Medical University of Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pawłowska-Kamieniak
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Medical University of Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mroczkowska-Juchkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Medical University of Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Krawiec
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Medical University of Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pac-Kożuchowska
mesh_terms: D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000506:poisoning*; D000293:Adolescent; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000506:poisoning*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000082:Acetaminophen