Poisoning in children and young people 2012-13

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has released a new report, Poisoning in children and young people 2012-13.  It reports on people aged 0-24 who were hospitalised due to poisoning in Australia, which was over 30% of all cases of poisoning.  49% of poisoned people under 24 were aged 18 and over, and 26% were aged 15-17.    

For all types of poisoning the rates were much higher for girls and young women than for boys and young men.  The largest category of poisoning was from non-opioid analgesics, such as ipbuprofen and paracetamol and 15-17 year old girls had the highest rate of poisoning by pharmaceuticals.

Almost two-thirds (63%) of poisoning cases among children and young people aged 10-24 were due to intentional self-harm, most common in people over 15. In these groups, intentional self-harm accounted for the largest proportion of hospitalised poisoning among both sexes, though the rates of intentional self-poisoning were higher among females in each age group.