2015 Top Ten

In 2015, the Washington Poison Center (WAPC) managed 62,732 calls, almost 172 calls per day.

• There were 54,928 human poison exposures, with children six and younger accounting for over 49% of all poison exposure cases.  There were over 7804 information calls.
• Over 80 % of poisonings were unintentional; 15 % were intentional, with self-harm suspected in 9.8 % of all cases.
• E-cigarette exposure calls decreased in 2015, and made up almost 30% of all nicotine-related exposure calls. In children under 6 years, e-cigarettes now account for roughly 21 % of all nicotine exposures.  In other age groups, e-cigarettes exposures slightly surpass other tobacco products and account for over 6.7 % of nicotine exposures.
• Marijuana exposure calls peaked in 2015, going up over 110%, with children under 6 years accounting for over 22 % of exposures and teens making up over 24%.
• Human exposures with more serious outcomes (moderate, major, or death) accounted for 6.72 % of all exposures in 2015.
• Almost 73% of all poison emergency cases reported to WAPC were calls from people’s homes, of these, over 92 % were treated without going to the hospital.

Top 10 categories for all exposures (adult and pediatric) for 2015:

1. Analgesics
2. Cleaning substances (household)
3. Cosmetics/personal care products
4. Antidepressants
5. Foreign bodies/toys/miscellaneous
6. Sedative/hypnotics/antipsychotics
7. Cardiovascular drugs
8. Antihistamines
9. Topical preparations
10. Plants

Top 10 substances for all exposures (adult and pediatric) for 2015:

1. Ibuprofen
2. Acetaminophen (single ingredient)
3. Benzodiazepine
4. Non-Sedating Antihistamines
5. Atypical Antipsychotic
6. Household Bleach
7. Antibiotics (oral)
8. Melatonin
9. Diaper care/rash product
10. Foreign Bodies

Top 10 categories for all exposures in adults for 2015:

1. Analgesics
2. Sedative/hypnotics/antipsychotics
3. Antidepressants
4. Cardiovascular drugs
5. Cleaning substances (household)
6. Alcohols
7. Pesticides
8. Anticonvulsants
9. Hormones and hormone antagonists
10. Antihistamines

Top 10 substances for all exposures in adults for 2015:

1. Benzodiazepine
2. Atypical antipsychotic
3. Beta Blockers (Blood Pressure medication)
4. Household Bleach
5. Non-Sedating Antihistamines
6. Acetaminophen (adult formulation)
7. Antibiotics
8. Gabapentin
9. Ibuprofen
10. Trazodone

Top 10 categories for all exposures in children under 6 years for 2015:

1. Cosmetics/personal care products
2. Cleaning substances (household)
3. Analgesics
4. Foreign bodies/toys/miscellaneous
5. Topical preparations
6. Vitamins
7. Plants
8. Dietary supplements/herbals/homeopathic
9. Antihistamines
10. Gastrointestinal preparations

Top 10 substances for all exposures in children under 6 years for 2015:

1. Ibuprofen
2. Diaper care/rash product
3. Acetaminophen (Pediatric formulation)
4. Children’s Vitamins without iron
5. Toothpaste with fluoride
6. Melatonin
7. Silica Gel
8. Foreign Bodies
9. Cream/lotion/make-up
10. Hand Sanitizer