Acute poisoning in children. Cases hospitalized during a three-year period in Trinidad

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Published on: September 11, 2018

G K Pillai1, K Boland, S Jagdeo

  • 1Faculty of Medical Sciences, Pharmacy Programme, University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. gopal@trinidad.net

The West Indian Medical Journal
|April 30, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Accidental poisoning is common in young children in Trinidad, with household products like drugs and kerosene being frequent culprits. Public education and child-resistant packaging are crucial for prevention.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Toxicology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Acute poisoning in children is a significant public health concern.
  • Understanding epidemiological patterns is vital for developing effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the epidemiology of acute childhood poisoning in North Trinidad.
  • To identify common poisoning agents and susceptible age groups.
  • To assess the need for preventive measures and a poison control center.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of medical records of 169 children under 16 admitted for acute poisoning.
  • Data collected from January 1998 to December 2000.
  • Analysis of poisoning agents, age distribution, and poisoning intent.

Main Results:

  • Accidental poisonings accounted for 84.6% of cases.
  • Most common agents included miscellaneous substances (24.8%), drugs (21.8%), kerosene (19.5%), and pesticides (15.9%).
  • The highest incidence was in the 0-4 years age group (69.2%).
  • A single fatality occurred in a 10-13 year-old due to paraquat ingestion.

Conclusions:

  • Accidental poisoning is prevalent in young children in Trinidad.
  • There is a clear need for enhanced public education on poison prevention.
  • The implementation of child-resistant packaging and potentially a poison control center is recommended.

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