Skip to main content
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • Issues
    • Current Issue
    • All Issues
    • Online First
    • Supplement
    • CME
  • About
  • For Authors
    • Instructions for Authors
    • Submission Fee
    • Submit Manuscript
  • Podcasts

Characteristics and outcomes of paracetamol poisoning cases at a general hospital in Northern Malaysia

< Back to Listing

Share this Article

Singapore Med J 2006; 47(2): 134-137
Characteristics and outcomes of paracetamol poisoning cases at a general hospital in Northern Malaysia

  • Abstract
  • PDF

Mohd Zain Z, Fathelrahman AI, Ab Rahman AF
Correspondence: Dr Ab Rahman A F, abfatahmy@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT
Introduction
 Paracetamol is available as an over-the-counter medication in many countries including Malaysia. This drug has been implicated in many poisoning cases admitted to hospitals throughout the country.
Methods We conducted a three-year retrospective review of 165 medical records of patients admitted to the Penang General Hospital for acute paracetamol poisoning. Cases were identified according to the discharge diagnosis documented in their medical records.
Results Acute paracetamol poisoning occurred in all major ethnic groups. About 70 percent of our patients were female. There was minimal involvement of children. Admissions were more likely to be due to deliberate ingestions rather than accidental poisoning. In most cases, serum concentrations data plotted on the Rumack-Matthew nomogram predicted the majority of cases to be unlikely to be hepatotoxic, which were consistent with their mild clinical courses. Patients who acutely ingested more than 140 mg/kg or predicted to be hepatotoxic, based on their serum concentrations, had a significantly longer hospital stay.
Conclusion Although acute paracetamol poisoning was common, the outcome was generally good.

Keywords: acute poisoning, drug ingestion, paracetamol, poisoning
Singapore Med J 2006; 47(2): 134-137

http://smj.org.sg/sites/default/files/4702/4702a4.pdf
×
POPULAR THIS MONTH
Primary care approach to Kawasaki disease
SingHealth Radiology Archives pictorial essay Part 2: gastroenterology, musculoskeletal, and obstetrics and gynaecology cases
Are migrant workers in Singapore receiving adequate healthcare? A survey of doctors working in public tertiary healthcare institutions
Health-seeking behaviour of the elderly living alone in an urbanised low-income community in Singapore

Around the Site

Home

About SMJ

For Reviewers

Sign Up for Alerts

Issues

Current Issue

All Issues

Online First

Supplement

CME

For Authors

Instructions for Authors

Submit Manuscript


Follow us on:
        

More Links

Contact Us

Copyright

Advertise

SMJ Forms

Privacy Policy

SMA Home

Copyright 2021. Singapore Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.