Drug and Chemical Poisoning Patterns in Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This research reveals that drugs and chemicals poisoning have been reported to have severe and fetal side effects on health provided by doctors in statistics and periodical records. This work aimed to explore the interaction among drug and chemical poisoning patterns concerning risk factors, especially gender, age, exposure circumstances, and outcomes in the Makkah region. A retrospective analysis was of clinical drug and chemical poisoning cases (2014–2015). The data were retrieved from the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Ministry of Health, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health received 1216 reports of drug and chemical poisoning during 2014–2015 in Makkah. This study has found that, the most affected gender was that of males (65%). The most affected age category with drug poisoning was over 15 years old (67%), but under 5 years for chemical poisoning (60%). The majority of drug poisoning cases are unknown drugs (42%), which accidental poisoning was a minority compared with other drug causes (27%). Chemical poisoning accidents were the majority causes of the recorded cases (63%). We reported healthy recovered without complications for most patients from drug and chemical poisoning (85–95%). Antidotes were administered in only (5%) of cases, and fatalities were reported (0.5% of cases). We have shown a flagrant increase in the number of people poisoned by drugs and chemical agents during 2015. Increases poisoning cases involved both genders and all studied age categories, especially males over 15 years up to 25 (drugs) and < 5 years (chemicals). Most cases were accidental (chemicals) and reported healthy recovery for most patients.

Drug Overdose Patterns Among Emergency Department Patients at an Academic Hospital in Jeddah

“…We believe that the inconsistent result with the study from Ireland could be due to the fact that their study focused on intentional drug overdose while our study includes both intentional and accidental forms of drug overdose. A recent study conducted in Makkah in 2022 indicated that the most affected age category with drug poisoning was over 15 years old (67%), with it being more accurate and relatable to our results by including intentional and unintentional drug intoxication [10]. As a result, it is crucial to raise public awareness about proper child supervision and keep drugs out of children's reach.…”

Trends in antidote utilization at a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia: A 6‐year retrospective study

“…17 Previous studies in other cities in Saudi Arabia underscored the lack of adequate stocking of antidotes in most hospitals. [12][13][14][15][16] Our study provides details on antidotes utilized at a larger medical complex and over a longer duration, with some insight into the characteristics of the poisoning cases presented in our region. Acetaminophen toxicity had the highest incidence, and over a period of 6 years, 95 patients required approximately 1450 g of acetylcysteine.…”

“…Previous studies in other cities in Saudi Arabia underscored the lack of adequate stocking of antidotes in most hospitals 12–16 . Our study provides details on antidotes utilized at a larger medical complex and over a longer duration, with some insight into the characteristics of the poisoning cases presented in our region.…”

“…12 In a study that reviewed poisoning cases reported to the ministry of health in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, over 1 year, indicated that antidotes were administered in 5% of the cases only. 13 In a similar study reporting on the incidence of chemical poisoning cases in Jeddah, an even lower rate of antidote use was reported; 1.1% of the cases only received an antidote over the 1-year study period. 14 Nevertheless, these studies did not report a lack of antidote stocking as a cause for this low utilization.…”

“…A cross‐sectional survey of 17 hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, revealed inconsistency in essential antidote stocking, with clear variation in stocking between commonly in‐demand antidotes versus those rarely used 12 . In a study that reviewed poisoning cases reported to the ministry of health in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, over 1 year, indicated that antidotes were administered in 5% of the cases only 13 . In a similar study reporting on the incidence of chemical poisoning cases in Jeddah, an even lower rate of antidote use was reported; 1.1% of the cases only received an antidote over the 1‐year study period 14 .…”