Deliberate self harm was more common in females than it was in males (11.2% v 3.2% odds ratio 3.9, 95% confidence interval 3.1 to 4.9).

Only 12.6% of episodes had resulted in presentation to hospital. Results: 398 (6.9%) participants reported an act of deliberate self harm in the previous year that met study criteria. Main outcome measure: Deliberate self harm. Participants: 6020 pupils aged 15 and 16 years. Design: Cross sectional survey using anonymous self report questionnaire. Objective: To determine the prevalence of deliberate self harm in adolescents and the factors associated with it. A review of the literature since the preparation of the 1997 Single-dose Activated Charcoal Position Statement revealed no new evidence that would require a revision of the conclusions of the Statement. Unless a patient has an intact or protected airway, the administration of charcoal is contraindicated. There is no evidence that the administration of activated charcoal improves clinical outcome. Although volunteer studies demonstrate that the reduction of drug absorption decreases to values of questionable clinical importance when charcoal is administered at times greater than one hour, the potential for benefit after one hour cannot be excluded. Based on volunteer studies, the administration of activated charcoal may be considered if a patient has ingested a potentially toxic amount of a poison (which is known to be adsorbed to charcoal) up to one hour previously.

Single-dose activated charcoal should not be administered routinely in the management of poisoned patients.

There are no satisfactorily designed clinical studies assessing benefit from single-dose activated charcoal to guide the use of this therapy. Data using at least 50 g of activated charcoal, showed a mean reduction in absorption of 47.3%, 40.07%, 16.5% and 21.13%, when activated charcoal was administered at 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 120 minutes and 180 minutes, respectively, after dosing. Volunteer studies demonstrate that the effectiveness of activated charcoal decreases with time. Single-dose activated charcoal therapy involves the oral administration or instillation by nasogastric tube of an aqueous preparation of activated charcoal after the ingestion of a poison.

Paracetamol poisoning antidote dose