الفهرس 
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Abstract
Poisoning occurs when any substance interferes with the normal body functions after it is swallowed, inhaled, injected, or absorbed.
According to World health organization (WHO), poisoning represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the world, posing a significant public health risk particularly to children. In developing countries, it is a common cause of hospital admissions.
Household poisons are poisoning that occur by exposure to home products, especially happened by children (because they don’t know it is, or mimickers to adults) and by adult (accidental or suicidal). Over 90% of toxic exposure to household product occur in children under 5 year &usually at time when product is in use rather than storage.
The American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) highlights that household products are among the top five ranking agents involved in poisoning.
The present study aimed to study the magnitude of the problem of household poisoning in Alexandria and to identify the high risk groups of poisoning as well as to identify the most common toxic agents in Alexandria poison center and determine the outcome of poisoned patients.
The study entailed two parts; retrospective part and prospective one. The data of retrospective part was retrieved from medical records of household poisoned patients in medical registration department of Main Alexandria University hospital during a period starting from 1 may 2015 till the end of October 2015 according to appendix I and II.
The prospective part included toxicological assessment done for all patients of household poisoning referred to Alexandria poisoning center during a period of six months starting from 1 November 2015 till the end of April 2016 according to appendix I and II.
The number of cases of household poisoning referred to the Alexandria poisoning center during the period of the retrospective study was 1531 cases and the number of cases during the period of prospective study was 1503 cases with a total number during the whole period of both retrospective and prospective studies of 3034 (1250 males and 1784 females).
Demographic data and personal history were recorded for all cases (age, sex , date, occupation, marital status , number of siblings , governorate, residence, level of education, socioeconomic status and history of previous attempted suicide, psychic trouble, associated illness , alcohol abuse , drug abuse , drug use and also drug or substance used in poisoning, circumstances of poisoning , time lapse since intake of drugs as well as season of intake, time of intake , nature of poison , route of exposure and storage place of poison).
The study revealed that the highest frequency of household poisoning was among less than 5 years (28.7%) and from 5 to 10 years was (25.7 %,) while the lowest (.3%) was among those in the 7th decade. Moreover, there was statistical highly significant difference between males and females regarding age groups (p-value <0.001).
The highest percentage were females 58.8% and 41.2 % were males with female to male sex ratio of 1.43. Females outnumbered males in the study.
There was statistical significant difference between male and female regarding the sex (p-value =.017).
Males outnumbered females in age groups less than 5 years, from 5 to10 years and more than 50years, while females outnumbered males in age groups from 11-20 years.
There was 26.3% of household poisoning who were unemployed and they outnumbered those who had a work 15.2%. In addition there was statistical highly significant difference regarding occupation (p-value <0.001).
The highest percentage of household poisoning were unmarried 79.8% followed by married 13.2%. Divorced household poisoning accounted for 4.8% while only 2.1% of cases were widows. The total number of unmarried, divorced and widows outnumbered married people in household poisoning.
There was 68.9% of cases came from Alexandria followed by 27.5% came from Al-Behira. 1.8% of cases came from Kafr Elshikh while 1.1% of cases came from Marsa Matrouh. There was statistical highly significant difference regarding residence (p-value <0.001).
The study revealed that 36.1% of household poisoning cases could not read or write followed by cases had secondary level of education 23.8 % then university graduates constituted 22.2%.There was statistical highly significant difference regarding level of education (p-value <0.001).
Intermediate socioeconomic status was the highest percentage 50% followed by low socioeconomic status 42.3%. Moreover, There was statistical highly significant difference regarding socioeconomic status (p-value <0.001).
There was 10.3% of household poisoning cases had previous suicide attempt while remaining 89.7% had no history of attempt suicide There was highly statistical significant difference regarding history of previous attempt suicide (p-value <.001).
Psychic troubles were present in 50.3 % of cases of household poisoning while they were absent in 1509cases (49.7%).
The present study revealed that 86.3% of household cases had not history of associated illness while 13.7 % only had history of associated illness. Also there was statistical highly significant difference regarding history of associated illness (p-value <0.001).
1.7% of household poisoning cases had history of alcohol abuse, 98.8 % of cases had no history of being alcoholics. There was highly statistical difference regarding history of alcohol abuse (p-value<0.001).
8.3% of household poisoning cases had history of drug abuse, 91.7% of cases had no history of being drug abuser. In addition there was statistical highly significant difference regarding history of drug abuse (p-value <0.001).