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Introduction: The debate on paracetamol poisoning in Denmark has focused particularly on teenagers. The aim of this study was to describe the age distribution of patients with paracetamol poisoning, giving special attention to its characteristics in teenagers. Materials and methods: A retrospective study of 242 patients admitted from the local region without selection and 658 complicated cases transferred to a specialised hepatology department from 1994 to 2002 was done. Results: Among the local patients, the median age was 29 years, and 11% were teenagers. Among the transferred patients, the median age was 36 years, and 17% were teenagers. Teenagers accounted for only 5.3% of the cases of paracetamol-induced liver failure and 2.8% of the mortality (two deaths during the nine-year study period). Adults over 40 years accounted for 75% of the mortality. In half of all teenage cases, the self-poisoning was a premeditated act that was motivated by psychiatric disorders or deep-rooted social problems. Discussion: Paracetamol poisoning was most frequent in younger adults, whereas teenagers accounted for only a minority of cases. Paracetamol-induced liver failure and death were exceedingly rare in teenagers.

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