Centre staff

About us

TThe Poisons Information Centre (PIC) at Red Cross Children’s Hospital is a specialist poisons and medical toxicology service within the University of Cape Town Department of Paediatrics and Child Health. The PIC has over several decades compiled, collated and researched information on the diagnosis and treatment of locally relevant poisonous substances, animals and plants. This information is packaged as the toxicology database AfriTox® which is designed to help medical professionals throughout Southern Africa diagnose and treat acute poisoning in adults and children. Endorsed by the South Africa Standard Treatment Guidelines, AfriTox is continuously updated according to the latest evidence and best practice guidelines.

The key functions of the RXH PIC include:

•    AfriTox development and distribution
•    Toxicology teaching, training and research
•    Clinical advice on poisoning management
•    Support poisoning prevention efforts
•    Contribute to the Poisons Information Helpline of South Africa

 

Poisons Information Helpline of South Africa: What is it?

The Poisons Information Helpline of South Africa (PIH) provides advice on the assessment and management of acute poisoning. It is not for therapeutic advice or information on rational medicine use or adverse effects. The service is staffed by the PICs at Red Cross hospital and Tygerberg Hospital. It operates between 08:30 and 01:30 daily and is open to medical practitioners and members of the public for cases of confirmed or suspected poisoning.

When to contact the Poisons Information Helpline

Contact the helpline for confirmed or suspected poisoning, this includes:
•    Overdose of a medicine.
•    Exposure to unknown or unidentified substances where poisoning is suspected.
•    Household, industrial, occupational, agricultural chemical, or heavy metal exposures.
•    Poisonous plant or mushroom exposures
•    Exposure to venomous bites or stings.

When not to contact the Poisons Information Helpline

The Poisons Information Helpline of South Africa should not be contacted for:
•    Medicine side effects or adverse drug reactions during therapeutic use where toxicity is not suspected.
•    Medicine-medicine or medicine-food interactions where toxicity is not suspected.
•    Animal poisoning
•    Advice on rational medicines use, medicine indications and dosing, or how to manage missed doses. This should be discussed with your treating doctor or pharmacist.
•    Treatment of general symptoms that are unrelated to poisoning.

For prescribed medicine enquiries, members of the public should contact their treating doctor or pharmacist.

For healthcare professionals

Healthcare professionals may contact the PIH for advice for confirmed or suspected poisoning. This includes toxicological risk assessment, interpretation of clinical features, toxicology-specific investigations and patient management. The PIH is an advisory service and the final responsibility for patient care remains with the treating clinician.

When calling

Where possible, have the patient’s age and weight, substance or exact product details, and the dose and time of exposure available. For healthcare professionals, have the observations, clinical findings, and investigations available.