Medicine
Volume 35, Issue 10 , Pages 537-539, October 2007

The epidemiology of poisoning

D Nicholas Bateman MD FRCP FRCPE FBPharmacolS FBTS is Professor in Clinical Toxicology and National Director of the Poisons Information Service (Edinburgh Unit) at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, UK. He is Past President of the European Association of Poison Centres and Clinical Toxicologists. Competing interests: none declared

Abstract 

The epidemiology of poisoning can be studied from different perspectives. These include overall mortality, hospital admission rates, and enquiries to Poisons Information Services. Accidental poisoning is most common in children, but deliberate self-harm becomes predominant in teenage years and early adulthood. Understanding the patterns of poisoning assists in developing suicide prevention strategies and reducing the risks of accidental poisoning.

Keywords: deliberate self-harm, epidemiology, poisoning, suicide

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PII: S1357-3039(07)00205-8

doi:10.1016/j.mpmed.2007.07.005

Medicine
Volume 35, Issue 10 , Pages 537-539, October 2007

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