The pattern of poisoning in Costa Rica during 1997.

The Poison Control Center of Costa Rica has provided service since 1969. It attends calls from health professionals and the community in general regarding poisoning situations. The purpose of this study is to describe the pattern of poisonings reported to this Center during 1997. Drugs were the principal agents involved (49.2%) followed by pesticides and cleaning agents. Children under the age of 5 accounted for 39.2% of cases. Accidental circumstances were the predominant cause of poisoning in children. Among adults, suicide attempts prevailed. The male of female ratio was 1.05. Oral ingestions were the most frequent route of exposure (76.8%). It takes education and conscious efforts from everyone to help reduce poisoning cases.