| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2015 | Volume
: 3
| Issue : 3 | Page : 209-212 |
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Paracetamol overdose: Analysis of a sample from a tertiary hospital in Eastern Saudi Arabia
Mohammed A Almansori, Hassan I Alhammadi, Fahad A Almulhim
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Dammam, Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Correspondence Address:
Mohammed A Almansori
University of Dammam, P.O. Box 12875, Dammam 31483
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
 DOI: 10.4103/1658-631X.162000 
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Background: Paracetamol overdose is common and has such serious consequences as hepatic toxicity. The aim of this study was to characterize patients in a sample from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) with paracetamol overdose.
Materials and Methods: Retrospective chart review (July 1997 to December 2012) for all patients above the age of 18 years with the diagnosis of paracetamol overdose at a university hospital.
Results: A total of 86 patients with paracetamol overdose were analyzed, about 70% of these patients were young females. 80% were attempts at suicide. 56% of the patients received N-acetylcysteine. Two patients developed hepatic toxicity. There were no mortalities and the average hospital stay was 4.8 ± 4.9 days.
Conclusion: Paracetamol overdose is frequently seen in young females attempting suicide. In KSA, it tends to have a low rate of hepatic toxicity.
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