Citation

Bateman DN. Medicine (Abingdon) 2012; 40(2): 42-45.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Medicine Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.mpmed.2011.11.014

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The epidemiology of poisoning can be studied from different perspectives. These include overall mortality, hospital admission rates, and enquiries to Poisons Information Services. Accidental poisoning is most common in children, but deliberate self-harm becomes predominant in teenage years and early adulthood. Understanding the patterns of poisoning assists in developing suicide prevention strategies and reducing the risks of accidental poisoning.