In 2018, the Washington Poison Center (WAPC) handled 113,586 phone calls and managed 64,140 cases, over 311 calls and 175 cases per day.
There were 56,948 human poison exposure cases, with children six and younger accounting for 46% of all exposed patients. Human exposures with more serious outcomes (moderate, major, or death) accounted for 6% of all cases. The WAPC answered 7,068 poison, drug, and public health information requests.
Unintentional poisoning accounted for 79% of exposures while 16% were intentional, with abuse being the suspected reason in 2% of these cases. Of the 8,565 medication error cases, 17% were in children under 6 years old, and 26% were in adults 60 years and older.
Please see our Annual Data Reports for information on Cannabis, Opioids, Nicotine, Children and Adolescent Self Poisoning and Older Adults.
Top Ten Categories |
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| All Ages | Adults 60 and older | ||
| 1 | Analgesics (Pain Medications) | 1 | Cardiovascular Medications |
| 2 | Cleaning substances (household) | 2 | Analgesics (Pain Medications) |
| 3 | Cosmetics/Personal Care Products | 3 | Antidepressants |
| 4 | Foreign Bodies | 4 | Hormone Medications |
| 5 | Antihistamines | 5 | Cleaning substances (household) |
| 6 | Dietary Supplements | 6 | Sedatives/Antipsychotics |
| 7 | Pesticides | 7 | Anticonvulsants |
| 8 | Vitamins | 8 | Pesticides |
| 9 | Topical Preparations | 9 | Cosmetics/Personal Care Products |
| 10 | Plants | 10 | Other Misc. Medications |
| Adults 20 years and older |
Teens (13-19 years) | ||
| 1 | Analgesics(Pain Medications) | 1 | Analgesics (Pain Medications) |
| 2 | Antidepressants | 2 | Cleaning Substances (household) |
| 3 | Cardiovascular Medications | 3 | Cosmetics/Personal Care Products |
| 4 | Sedative/hypnotics/antipsychotics | 4 | Antidepressants |
| 5 | Cleaning substances (household) | 5 | Foreign Bodies |
| 6 | Alcohols | 6 | Cardiovascular Medications |
| 7 | Anticonvulsants | 7 | Antihistamines |
| 8 | Antihistamines | 8 | Sedatives/Antipsychotics |
| 9 | Pesticides | 9 | Dietary Supplements |
| 10 | Stimulants and Street Drugs | 10 | Pesticides |
| Children 6-12 years | Children 0-5 years | ||
| 1 | Foreign Bodies | 1 | Cosmetics/personal care products |
| 2 | Analgesics | 2 | Cleaning substances (household) |
| 3 | Plants | 3 | Analgesics ( Pain Medications_ |
| 4 | Cosmetics/personal care products | 4 | Foreign bodies |
| 5 | Antihistamines | 5 | Dietary Supplements |
| 6 | Cleaning substances (household) | 6 | Vitamins |
| 7 | Cold and cough Medications | 7 | Topical Preparations |
| 8 | Vitamins | 8 | Antihistamines |
| 9 | Pesticides | 9 | Plants |
| 10 | Stimulants and Street Drugs | 10 | Pesticides |
Top Ten Substances |
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| All Ages | Adults 60 and older | ||
| 1 | Ibuprofen | 1 | Blood Pressure( Beta blocker) |
| 2 | Non-Sedating Antihistamines | 2 | Blood Pressure (Calcium Channel) |
| 3 | Acetaminophen Alone | 3 | Cholesterol Medication |
| 4 | Melatonin | 4 | Acetaminophen alone |
| 5 | Ethanol: beverage alcohol | 5 | Benzodiazepines |
| 6 | Antipsychotics | 6 | Misc. drugs-Other |
| 7 | Diphenhydramine Alone | 7 | Blood Pressure (ACE inhibitor) |
| 8 | Benzodiazepines | 8 | Insulin |
| 9 | Childrens Multi Vitamins | 9 | Antipsychotic |
| 10 | Bleach | 10 | Gabapentin |
| Adults >= 20 years | Teens (13-19 years) | ||
| 1 | Ethanol ( Beverage alcohol) | 1 | Ibuprofen |
| 2 | Antipsychotics | 2 | Non-Sedating Antihistamines |
| 3 | Benzodiazepine | 3 | Acetaminophen Alone |
| 4 | Acetaminophen Alone | 4 | Melatonin |
| 5 | Non-Sedating Antihistamines | 5 | Ethanol: beverage alcohol |
| 6 | Blood Pressure( Beta blocker) | 6 | Antipsychotics |
| 7 | Gabapentin | 7 | Diphenhydramine Alone |
| 8 | Trazodone | 8 | Benzodiazepines |
| 9 | Diphenhydramine Alone | 9 | Childrens Multi-Vitamins |
| 10 | Bleach | 10 | Bleach |
| Children 6-12 years | Children 0-5 years | ||
| 1 | Glow products (Glow Sticks, Jewelry) | 1 | Ibuprofen |
| 2 | Non-Sedating Antihistamines | 2 | Melatonin |
| 3 | Children’s Multi-Vitamins | 3 | Children’s Multi-Vitamins |
| 4 | Ibuprofen | 4 | Diaper care/rash product |
| 5 | Plants | 5 | Acetaminophen Alone |
| 6 | Methylphenidate | 6 | Non-Sedating Antihistamines |
| 7 | Foreign bodies | 7 | Foreign bodies |
| 8 | Diphenhydramine Alone | 8 | Creams, Lotions, Makeup |
| 9 | Acetaminophen Alone | 9 | Toothpaste with Fluoride |
| 10 | Spoiled Food | 10 | Desiccant (Moisture Absorbers) |