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2014 Top Ten 2017-07-07T02:55:40-08:00

In 2014, the Washington Poison Center managed 63,728 calls, over 174 calls per day on average.

  • There were 54,715 human poison exposures, with children younger than six accounting for over 56% of all poison exposure cases.  There were over 7,981 information calls.
  • Almost 81% of poisonings were unintentional. 13.9% were intentional, with suicidal intent suspected in 9% of all cases.
  • E-cigarette exposure calls peaked in 2014, and made up over 59% of all nicotine-related exposure calls. In children under 6 years, e-cigarettes now account for roughly 31.5% of nicotine exposures.  In other age groups, e-cigarettes exposures have surpassed other tobacco products and account for as many as 64 % of exposures.
  • Marijuana exposure calls also peaked in 2014, with children under 6 years accounting for almost 14% of exposures and teens making up over 25%.
  • Human exposures with more serious outcomes (moderate, major, or death) accounted for 5.8 % of all exposures in 2014.
  • 76 % of all poison emergency cases reported to WAPC were calls from people’s homes, of these, over 91 % were treated without going to the hospital.
  1. Accidental Exposure (children getting into something, or an adult with an accident)
    2. Therapeutic Error (medication error)
    3. Self Harm
    4. Accidental Misuse of a Product (didn’t follow directions)
    5. Intentional Misuse of a Product (read the directions, but did not follow them)
    6. Environmental Exposure (something in the water, air, or other contaminate)
    7. Adverse reaction to a Drug (a bad side effect)
    8. Drug or Alcohol Abuse
    9. Occupational Exposure (exposed to something at work)
    10. Food poisoning

Top 10 Categories for All Exposures in (Adult & Pediatric) for 2014:

  1. Cosmetics/Personal Care Products
    2. Analgesics
    3. Cleaning Substances (Household)
    4. Foreign Bodies/Toys
    5. Antidepressants
    6. Cardiovascular Drugs
    7. Topical Preparations
    8. Plants
    9. Pesticides
    10. Vitamins

Top 10 Categories for All Exposures in Adults (over 19 years) for 2014:

  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 Categories for All Exposures in Teens (13-18 years) for 2014:

  1. Analgesics
    2. Antidepressants
    3. Antihistamines
    4. Stimulants and Street Drugs
    5. Sedative/Hypnotics/Antipsychotics
    6. Cold and Cough Preparations
    7. Cleaning Substances (Household)
    8. Cosmetics/Personal Care Products
    9. Anticonvulsants
    10. Cardiovascular Drugs

Top 10 Categories for All Exposures in Children Under 13 years for 2014:

  1. Cosmetics/Personal Care Products
    2. Analgesics
    3. Cleaning Substances (Household)
    4. Foreign Bodies/Toys
    5. Topical Preparations
    6. Vitamins
    7. Plants
    8. Antihistamines
    9. Dietary Supplements/Herbals/Homeopathic
    10. Gastrointestinal Preparations

Top 10 Categories for All Exposures in Children Under 6 years for 2014:

  1. Cosmetics/Personal Care Products
    2. Cleaning Substances (Household)
    3. Foreign Bodies/Toys
    4. Analgesics
    5. Topical Preparations
    6. Vitamins
    7. Plants
    8. Dietary Supplement/Homeopathic Medications
    9. Antihistamines
    10. Pesticides

Top 10 Substances for All Exposures in (Adult & Pediatric) for 2014:

  1. Acetaminophen, Single Ingredient
    2. Bleach
    3. Atypical Antipsychotic Medications
    4. Diaper Rash Ointment
    5. Miscellaneous Other/Unknown Non-drug Substances
    6. Antibiotics
    7. Toothpaste
    8. Desiccant, Silica Gel
    9. Foreign Body
    10. Vitamins without Iron

Top 10 Substances for All Exposures in Adults (over 19 years) for 2014:

  1. Benzodiazepines
    2. Ethanol, Beverage
    3. Atypical Antipsychotic Medications
    4. Bleach
    5. Beta Blocker
    6. Adult Formulation, Single Ingredient Acetaminophen
    7. Non-Sedating Antihistamines
    8. Ibuprofen
    9. Antibiotics
    10. Other/Unknown Non-drug Substances

Top 10 Substances for All Exposures in Teens (13-18 years) for 2014:

  1. Ibuprofen
    2. Adult Formulation, Single ingredient Acetaminophen
    3. Non-Sedating Antihistamines
    4. Atypical Antipsychotic
    5. Fluoxetine
    6. Benzodiazepine
    7. Ethanol, Beverage
    8. Sertraline
    9. Naproxen
    10. Diphenhydramine

Top 10 Substances for All Exposures in Children Under 13 years for 2014

  1. Ibuprofen
    2. Pediatric Formulation Acetaminophen
    3. Diaper Care/Rash Product
    4. Multiple Vitamin Tablets, Pediatric Formulations
    5. Toothpaste with Fluoride
    6. Non-Sedating Antihistamine
    7. Desiccant
    8. Glow Product
    9. Cream/Lotion/Make-Up
    10. Other Foreign Body

Top 10 Substances for All Exposures in Children Under 6  years for 2014:

  1. Diaper Care/Rash Products
    2. Acetaminophen, Pediatric Formulation
    3. Toothpaste
    4. Vitamins, No Iron, No Fluoride
    5. Desiccant, Silica Gel
    6. Cream/Lotion/Make-up
    7. Foreign Body
    8. Hand Sanitizers, Ethanol Based
    9. Deodorant
    10. Non-Sedating Antihistamines