07 Profile of acute poisoning cases presenting.pmd

1Directorate of Environmental Health and Malaria Eradication, Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman. Received: 23/09/01; accepted: 08/01/02 ABSTRACT A simple pro forma was used for a retrospective study of poisoning cases at 45 health institutions in Oman during January–December 2000. No deaths were recorded among 2009 cases of acute poisoning. A quarter of all cases (55.8% of paediatric cases) were children aged 1–4 years. The largest category (59.5%) was animal bites and stings: 25.4% undiagnosed, 19.7% scorpion stings, 7.6% bee, spider or wasp stings and 6.8% snake bites. Next highest (38.5%) was ingestion of substances: 18.2% pharmaceuticals, 8.2% food and 4.7% household products. Most drug-related cases were due to paracetamol. Suicide attempts were recorded for 6.0%. Collection of poisoning data through a central registry system is needed for the implementation and future assessment of prevention programmes.