@article{ref1,
title="Drug poisoning and associated factors in western Saudi Arabia: a five-year retrospective chart review (2011-2016)",
journal="Pakistan journal of medical sciences quarterly",
year="2017",
author="Alzahrani, Sami H. and Alqahtani, Ali H. and Farahat, Fayssal Mostafa and Elnour, Mohammed Abdel Galil and Bashawri, Jamil",
volume="33",
number="5",
pages="1188-1193",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: Drug poisoning is a globally common cause of emergency-room admissions. This study explores drug-poisoning prevalence patterns, associated risk factors (gender, age and exposure circumstances), and outcomes in western Saudi Arabia. <br><br>METHODS: Retrospective analysis of Clinical drug poisoning cases (2011-2016). The data were retrieved from the Saudi Ministry of Health's record and Patients' medical charts were analyzed. <br><br>RESULTS: The Ministry of Health received 1,474 reports of drug poisoning during 2011-2016. More than half involved females (n=885, 60%) or young children (0-4 years old) (n=764, 51.8%) and occurred accidentally (n=786, 53.3%); almost all had an oral route of poisoning (n=1,466, 99.5%). The cases most frequently involved analgesic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (n=373, 25.2%); antiepileptic, antipsychotic, psychoactive, and anxiolytic drugs (n=229, 16.3%); antihistamine, asthma, flu, and cough drugs (n=157, 12.0%); and antibiotic, anti-fungal; and antiprotozoal drugs (n=74, 5.0%). Antidotes were administered in only 2.2% of cases, and no deaths were reported. <br><br>CONCLUSION: The drug poisoning cases involved females and young children (younger than 5 years old) and the most cases were accidental, and the most commonly used drugs were analgesics (Panadol), followed by antipsychotics, antihistamines, and antiepileptics (Tegretol).<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1682-024X",
doi="10.12669/pjms.335.13119",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.12669/pjms.335.13119"
}