Self-poisoning by drugs and chemicals: variations in demographics, associated factors and final outcomes.

Objective: Drug overdose exposures were compared with chemical poisoning in terms of demographics, associated factors and final outcomes.

Method: Deliberate self-poisoning (DSP) cases admitted to Penang General Hospital during the years 2000-2004 were studied. Chi-square, independent t-test and binary logistic were used whenever applicable.

MS 04-044: demographic features of drug and chemical poisoning in northern Malaysia.

Acute poisoning is a significant health problem all over the world. In Malaysia, nationwide data on poisoning pattern is scarce and incomplete. The objectives of our study were to determine the pattern of acute drug and chemical poisoning at Penang General Hospital (PGH), in the northern region of Malaysia, and to compare poisoning characteristics between different ethnic groups.