New poisoning statistics released
Paracetamol is top enquiry
Overall, the NPIS received in excess of 115,000
queries about paracetamol — over 99,000 visits to paracetamol poisoning
information on TOXBASE (the NPIS’s online information database)
and around 16,000 telephone calls. After paracetamol, queries about
ibuprofen (over 42,500) and aspirin (over 25,500) were the next
most commonly dealt with by the service. |
Over a third of enquiries to the National Poisons Information Service involve children under 10 years of age, according to the service's 2005–06 report.
The report says that pharmaceuticals make up 66 per cent of all enquiries,
and industrial and household chemicals account for 13 per cent and 11
per cent, respectively.
Simon Thomas, chairman of the NPIS clinical standards group and report
contributor, told The Journal that safe storage of household products
and pharmaceuticals is a key public health message in the prevention
of childhood poisoning.
“Pharmacists are in the position to provide information to the
public on appropriate storage of medicines — keeping them where they cannot
be reached by children,” said Dr Thomas. “There is also an
opportunity to educate people about how to dispose safely of unused medicines
kept at home. In instances where medicines are not dispensed in child-resistant
packaging, pharmacists could inform patients of which medicines might
be particularly hazardous to children.” |
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