Background & Objective: Most of the acute poisonings are mild with no complication but in some rare cases they can be life threatening. About 70% of acute poisoning happens in children. More than 90% of these toxic exposures are incidental and easily preventable. The factors leading to acute poisoning are variable based on cultural and socioeconomic differences among the population. The increasing production and distribution of new drugs and chemicals change the etiologic factors. This study was conducted to investigate common acute poisonings and their victims in Tabriz.

 Methods: In this retrospective study 306 cases of acute poisoning were reviewed from April 1999 to March 2002, in Tabriz Pediatric Medical Center. The factors that were considered included: age, gender, manner (incidental versus intentional), agents route of intoxication, residential area (rural versus urban), duration of admission, clinical presentation, date of first admission and mortality.

 Results: 306 patients (53.3% male and 46.7% female) were studied in this research. Most of the cases (31%) were 1-2 years old, and the fewest (1.3%) were under 6 months of age. About 95% of the cases were incidental, and 5% intentional suicide attempts among children above 10 years of age. 63% of the subjects were living in Tabriz, 29.5% of them were from rural areas and the rest (7.5%) were dwelling small towns. Poisons in the order of prevalence included: drugs (45.5%), hydrocarbons (26%), organo phosphates (7%), atropinic material and datura intoxication (6%), Rodenticides (3.6%), Opiates (2.9%), Carbon monoxide (2.2%) and alcohol, mushrooms, animal bites, acids & alkalines (6.8%). Average duration of hospitalization was 2 days and the total mortality rate was 3 cases.

 Conclusions: The most common etiologic factor was drug poisoning followed by hydrocarbons as the second most prevalent factor in this regard. It seems that mass media especially TV programs can play a key role to increase the public knowledge about this issue.

  Background & Objectives : One of the limitations in management of patients suffering from decreased level of consciousness due to drug poisoning is the inability to interview the patient. The aim of the study was to compare characteristics of the two subgroups of these patients those who had a suicidal attempt history with others.

 Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 19 patients with suicidal attempt history and 66 patients without this history were selected among patients who were admitted for drug poisoning to referral poisoning hospitals in Tehran, Iran, in August, September and October 2009. All of them had decreased level of consciousness due to unknown drug poisoning. Demographics, poisoning characteristics, past medical history and substance use history of the patients were recorded.

 Results: Different between previous history of suicide action with drug material decreased level of consciousness caused by poisoning, was significantly (p=0.04). Mental disease (p > 0.01), number of tablets consumed (p=0.02), interval between drug consumption and emergency forces to reach the place (p= 0.021), described in deliberate self poisoning patients (Self Poisoning) (p=0.001), decreased level of consciousness grade (p=0.046), U.S. fail initial level of consciousness after emergency measures (p=0.02) and the need for health care and advanced next (p= 0.013) in patients with decreased level of consciousness with a history of previous suicide compared with other group were higher. Significant difference between the two age groups (P> 0.05), gender and history of illegal drug use (P> 0.05) did not exist.

 Conclusion: According to these findings, when dealing with patients suffering from decreased level of consciousness due to unknown drug poisoning, paying attention to history of suicidal attempts in these patients can help medical professionals in determining more effective treatment options for them. Medical staff should also record previous suicide as a risk factor in the risk assessment to consider the disease.