How common is acetaminophen poisoning?
Paracetamol poisoning
Paracetamol poisoning was first described in the 1960s.[4] Rates of poisoning vary significantly between regions of the world.[6] In the United States more than 100,000 cases occur a year.[2] In the United Kingdom it is the medication responsible for the greatest number of overdoses.[5] Young children are most commonly affected.[2] In the United States and the United Kingdom paracetamol is the most common cause of acute liver failure.[7][2]
Poisoning
Chronic poisoning is long-term repeated or continuous exposure to a poison where symptoms do not occur immediately or after each exposure. The patient gradually becomes ill, or becomes ill after a long latent period. Chronic poisoning most commonly occurs following exposure to poisons that bioaccumulate, or are biomagnified, such as mercury, gadolinium, and lead.