Acetaminophen (APAP) administration results in hepatotoxicity and hematotoxicity in cats. The response to three different treatments against APAP poisoning was evaluated. Free glutathione (GSH) (200mg/kg), niosomal GSH (14 mg/kg) and free amino acids (180 mg/kg of N-acetylcysteine and 280 mg/kg of methionine) were administered to cats that were intoxicated with APAP (a single dose of 150 mg/kg,...

Since the 1970s, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has shown proven efficacy as an antidote for acetaminophen (APAP) poisoning and APAP-induced liver failure for early presenters. The current evidence of benefits of NAC for late presenters is controversial because of the poor understanding of the mechanism of late toxicity. In the previous issue of Critical Care, Yang and colleagues use a mouse model to d...

The importance of aspirin as a cause of poisoning in children has declined dramatically with safety packaging and reductions in the dose of flavored children's aspirin per package. Although flavoring entices children to ingest more tablets, the increment is less than the dose differential between the children's and adults' preparations, and so the latter pose the greater hazard in the individua...

Self-poisoning is an important medical and social problem in adolescents.We performed an observational cross-sectional retrospective study on a group of 219 adolescents admitted for voluntary intoxications at "St. Mary" Children's Emergency Hospital, Iasi during 1 year period. Epidemiological aspects and triggering factors have been analyzed. Data collected from the patients' files were central...

Paracetamol is the commonest drug taken in overdose in the United Kingdom. While the management of early paracetamol poisoning is straightforward, the management of late presenting cases, cases presenting after a staggered overdose, and patients with risk factors for paracetamol poisoning can be much more complex. The authors have developed and present here an evidence based flowchart that will...

West Midlands Centre for Adverse Drug Reactions, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK National Poisons Information Service, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Edinburgh University, Queen’s Medical Research Ins...

Immunoassays are useful laboratory methods for clinical and forensic toxicology diagnostics. The methods are fast, sensitive, accurate and let determine poisons concentrations in different kinds of biological fluids. There are blood and urine or alternative: saliva, sweat and hair. The choice of the sample depends on the purpose of analysis. In acute poisoning the blood or serum poison concentr...

Previously, prior approval from the on-call chemical pathologist was required in our hospital for plasma paracetamol measurements. However, since May 1992, there have been no restrictions on ordering this assay. We have assessed the consequences of this policy change by comparing the number and appropriateness of requests for plasma paracetamol measurements in Chinese patients admitted to our h...

Deliberate self-poisoning presenting at Craigavon Area Hospital was compared in the years of 1976 and 1986. A decline in the use of benzodiazepines and increase in other agents, notably paracetamol, is reported. Alcohol is frequently associated with deliberate self-poisoning, while severe mental illness is less common. Diagnostic practice may have effects on bed occupancy in this group.

The numbers of children under 5 years in South Glamorgan admitted to hospital because of accidental poisoning have been analysed for 1980-4. There has been no significant fall in those taking solid dose, prescribable medications since the voluntary agreement between the government and the pharmaceutical profession in 1981 on child resistant containers. Most children still take these poisons fro...