Objective: Characterising patients attended at a toxicological centre in the central western area of Venezuela (the state of Lara).
Methods: This was a descriptive/cross-sectional study. The population consisted of 1,938 patients who registered during 2006 and 2007; data was collected from the Centre's data collection forms.
Results: 57.4 % of the patients recorded on the toxicological centre's forms during 2006 and 2007 consulted during 2006. The patients' average age was 19 during 2006 (including adults and teenagers) and 20 during 2007. Males most often attended the centre (55.4 %). The most common cause for consultation was poisoning from snake bite, more than 40 % of the cases being caused by Bothrops. Pesticide intoxication was the second cause for male consultation (20.6 %); female medication poisoning accounted for 26.6 %. Iribarren County had the highest consultation rate in the State of Lara (47.8 % of cases). 95 patients (4.9 %) came from neighbouring States (Portuguesa and Yaracuy) during the two years this study lasted.
Conclusions: It is hoped that this study will lead to special education and attention programmes for the most commonly diagnosed pathologies being implemented with greater frequency, as well as corrective action being taken regarding individual and collective risk in the state of Lara's different geographical areas.