Childhood poisoning in Sri Lanka

Area of Science:

• Toxicology
• Pediatric Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Childhood poisoning is a significant public health concern, necessitating awareness of prevalent toxic agents.
• Poison information services play a crucial role in managing and preventing poisoning incidents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify common toxic agents responsible for poisoning in children in Sri Lanka before the establishment of a national poisons information center.
• To analyze the demographic profile and common causes of poisoning in pediatric admissions.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective hospital-based study was conducted in selected hospitals in the Western Province of Sri Lanka.
• Data from 4,556 poisoning admissions in 1986 were analyzed, with a specific focus on 540 cases involving children under 15 years.
• Toxic agents and age-specific poisoning patterns were examined.

Main Results:

• Children under 15 accounted for 11.4% of total poisoning admissions.
• Kerosene oil was the leading cause of poisoning in children under 5 years (47%).
• In the 5-14 years age group, kerosene oil, pesticides, and plants/mushrooms were the most frequent causes of poisoning. Males constituted 66% of cases. The overall case fatality rate was 3.2%.

Conclusions:

• Kerosene oil and pesticides represent significant poisoning hazards for children in Sri Lanka.
• Understanding common toxic agents is vital for developing targeted prevention strategies and informing poison control services.
• The findings underscore the importance of establishing robust poison information services to mitigate childhood poisoning risks.