ABSTRACT
Salicylates in rudimentary form have been known since ancient times and were first described by Hippocrates (1). Toxicity was described much later, after aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) was synthesized by the Bayer company in the 1850s. For many decades salicylate intoxication was the leading cause of accidental poisonings and deaths among children (2-4). Although recently there has been a substantial reduction in these accidental poisonings and deaths (5-7), salicylate poisoning continues to be rela tively common because of accidental ingestion in chil dren, intentional overdose in adults, and therapeutic intoxication in persons of all ages (8-10). The great decrease in the number of accidental pediatric salicylate ingestions and deaths over the last few years is due pri marily to the introduction of safety lids on containers, the restriction on the number of flavored aspirin to 45 grains or 36 1.25-grain tablets per container, and the decreased use of salicylates in children (5-7,10). More than 20 bil lion tablets of salicylate are consumed per year, and more than 200 aspirin-containing products are available. Sali cylates probably exist in more different formulations than any other drug (11).
