Paracetamol Ingestions at the Children's Emergency Department - A Three Year Series

KC Ng
Correspondence: Dr K C Ng, keech@kkh.com.sg

ABSTRACT
This is a three-year retrospective review of 96 cases of paracetamol ingestions seen by KK Children's Emergency Department. Paracetamol is the commonest substance (23%) involved in childhood poisonings. More than 60% occurred in children aged one to three years old with an equal gender distribution. Eighty-six percent were accidental ingestions and the intentional ones had a significant female bias, all occurring in children aged 12 and above. These older children ingested higher doses of paracetamol (average dose of 233 mg/kg) and had potentially serious serum paracetamol levels. There was no significant morbidity and no mortality in this series.

Keywords: Childhood poisonings, Paracetamol Ingestion, Intentional Ingestions, Teenage paracetamol poisoning
Singapore Med J 2003; 44(2): 79-83