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Published on: September 11, 2018

Childhood poisoning at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi

C Chibwana1, T Mhango, E M Molyneux

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, College of Medicine, Chichiri, Blantyre, Malawi.

East African Medical Journal
|May 11, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Accidental childhood poisoning is a significant problem, with household agents and traditional medicines being common causes. Public awareness and safe storage are crucial to prevent these incidents and reduce mortality.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Toxicology
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Childhood poisoning presents a significant public health challenge in many regions.
  • Understanding the epidemiology of poisoning is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To document the incidence and causes of childhood poisoning admissions at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital.
  • To analyze clinical and laboratory findings, and patient outcomes.
  • To identify preventable patterns in pediatric poisoning events.

Main Methods:

  • A one-year prospective study of children admitted with acute poisoning.
  • Data collection included socio-demographic, clinical, and laboratory information.
  • Analysis was performed using Epi-Info 6 software.

Main Results:

  • 144 children were admitted; 82% were accidental poisonings.
  • Carbonate (32%) and paraffin (16.7%) were leading causes of poisoning.
  • Eleven deaths occurred, with traditional medicine intoxication accounting for six.

Conclusions:

  • Most childhood poisonings are preventable through public education on household agent risks and safe storage.
  • Traditional medicines pose a high mortality risk, especially for infants under one year.
  • Targeted interventions are needed to reduce childhood poisoning rates and improve outcomes.
Abstract

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