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2017 Top Ten 2019-07-23T10:31:12-07:00

In 2017, the Washington Poison Center (WAPC) managed 62,987 calls, over 172 calls per day.

There were 55,247 human poison exposures, with children six and younger accounting for almost 50% of all poison exposure cases.  Human exposures with more serious outcomes (moderate, major, or death) accounted for 5.86 % of all exposures.   There were over 7626 information calls.  Almost 54% of calls regarding children under 6 were for non-medications.

Almost 79% of poisonings were unintentional; 16 % were intentional, with suicidal intent suspected in 11 % of these cases.   Of the 7,823 medication errors, almost 18% were in children under 6 years old and over 26% were in adults 60 years and older.

Please see our Annual Data reports for information on Cannabis, Opioids, Nicotine, and Older Adults.

Top Ten Categories

  All Ages   Adults 60 and older
1 Analgesics 1 Cardiovascular drugs
2 Cleaning substances (household) 2 Analgesics
3 Cosmetics/personal care products 3 Hormones and hormone antagonists
4 Antidepressants 4 Antidepressants
5 Sedative/hypnotics/antipsychotics 5 Sedative/hypnotics/antipsychotics
6 Antihistamines 6 Cleaning substances (household)
7 Cardiovascular drugs 7 Cosmetics/personal care products
8 Foreign bodies/toys/miscellaneous 8 Pesticides
9 Plants 9 Anticonvulsants
10 Stimulants and street drugs 10 Misc. drugs
Adults >= 20 years   Teens (13-19 years)
1 Analgesics 1 Analgesics
2 Sedative/hypnotics/antipsychotics 2 Antidepressants
3 Antidepressants 3 Antihistamines
4 Cardiovascular drugs 4 Sedative/hypnotics/antipsychotics
5 Cleaning substances (household) 5 Cold and cough preparations
6 Ethanol: beverage alcohol 6 Stimulants and street drugs
7 Anticonvulsants 7 Cardiovascular drugs
8 Stimulants and street drugs 8 Cleaning substances (household)
9 Antihistamines 9 Anticonvulsants
10 Hormones and hormone antagonists 10 Cosmetics/personal care products
Children 6-12 years   Children 0-5 years
1 Analgesics 1 Cosmetics/personal care products
2 Foreign bodies/toys/miscellaneous 2 Cleaning substances (household)
3 Cosmetics/personal care products 3 Analgesics
4 Antihistamines 4 Foreign bodies/toys/miscellaneous
5 Plants 5 Topical preparations
6 Stimulants and street drugs 6 Vitamins
7 Vitamins 7 Plants
8 Cleaning substances (household) 8 Dietary supplements/ herbals/homeopathic
9 Cold and cough preparations 9 Antihistamines
10 Dietary supplements/ herbals/homeopathic 10 Pesticides

Top Ten Substances

All Ages   Adults 60 and older
1 Ibuprofen 1 Beta blocker, Alone
2 Non-Sedating Antihistamines 2 Calcium antagonist, Alone
3 Benzodiazepine 3 Benzodiazepine
4 Ethanol: beverage alcohol 4 Insulin
5 Acetaminophen 5 Antihyperlipidemic, Alone
6 Atypical antipsychotic 6 Misc. drugs-Other
7 Melatonin 7 Acetaminophen
8 Household Bleach 8 Antibiotics
9 Antibiotics 9 ACE inhibitor, Alone
10 Diphenhydramine 10 Atypical antipsychotic
Adults >= 20 years   Teens (13-19 years)
1 Ethanol: beverage alcohol 1 Ibuprofen
2 Benzodiazepine 2 Acetaminophen
3 Atypical antipsychotic 3 Non-Sedating Antihistamines
4 Acetaminophen 4 Sertraline
5 Beta blocker, Alone 5 Atypical antipsychotic
6 Non-Sedating Antihistamines 6  Fluoxetine
7 Household Bleach 7 Benzodiazepine
8 Ibuprofen 8 Diphenhydramine
9 Trazodone 9 Ethanol: beverage alcohol
10 Gabapentin 10 Trazodone
Children 6-12 years   Children 0-5 years
1 Non-Sedating Antihistamines 1 Ibuprofen
2 Ibuprofen 2 Melatonin
3 Glow product 3 Acetaminophen
4 Melatonin 4 Diaper care/rash product
5 Unknown Non-Drug Substance 5 Non-Sedating Antihistamines
6 Methylphenidate 6 Cream/lotion/make-up
7 Foreign bodies/toys/miscellaneous 7 Personal care products
8 Vitamins-  No iron, no fluoride 8 Foreign bodies/toys/miscellaneous
9 Plants 9 Toothpaste with fluoride
10 Diphenhydramine 10 Desiccant