According to its annual report,1 the National Poisons Information Centre (NPIC) received 9,816 enquiries in 2013. Of these, 9,520 (97%) were about human poisonings. The remaining calls concerned poisonings in animals (0.7%) and non-emergency requests for information (2.3%). Calls were evenly distributed over the week, with an average of 27 calls every day and the busiest time being between 6pm and 9pm.

The most frequent enquiries were from general practitioners/primary care personnel (39.7%), hospitals (27%) and members of the public (27.8%). The other sources of enquiries were community pharmacists, nursing/care homes, ambulance and emergency services, veterinary practices and schools. Calls from members of the public in 2013 increased by 7% over the previous year.

Over half (56%) of the enquiries about cases of poisoning in humans concerned children under 10 years of age,  with boys outnumbering girls. There were 2,166 (23%) enquiries about adults (aged 20 years or over), with women being the subject of just over half of all enquiries and over half the enquiries (52%) being about intentional self-poisoning or recreational abuse. Most poisonings (93%) occurred in the home or domestic setting.

Drugs (pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse), industrial chemicals and household products were the most common agents involved in human cases of poisoning. As in previous years, the most common enquiry concerned substances containing paracetamol. The second most common agent was ibuprofen. Cannabis was the most common drug of abuse discussed with the NPIC, followed by cocaine and heroin.

Of the 191 enquiries relating to liquid detergent capsules, 93% concerned children aged less than 5 years. The NPIC liaises with the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) regarding the increasing number of poisoning incidents involving liquid laundry detergent capsules. Actions taken to decrease the incidence of accidental poisoning from liquid laundry detergent capsules in young children include changes to the packaging and labelling of liquid detergent capsule products and consumer campaigns to raise awareness about safe use and storage.

Only a small proportion of enquires (271, 2.8%) required follow-up. Although most cases recovered completely, 17 cases suffered adverse effects, a further 12 died, and the outcome of 23 cases could not be determined. Drugs were implicated in eight of the fatal cases, and five of these involved drugs of abuse.