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Acute poisoning in children

Muhammad Haroon Hamid1, Tayyaba Butt, Ghulam Raza Baloch

  • 1Department of Paediatric Medicine, The Children's Hospital and the Institute of Child Health, Lahore, Pakistan. haroonr5@yahoo.com

Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons--Pakistan : JCPSP
|January 10, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Acute poisoning in children, primarily caused by pharmaceuticals and petroleum products, significantly impacts hospital admissions and outcomes. Increased awareness and education on household substance toxicity are crucial for prevention.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Toxicology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Acute poisoning is a significant cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality.
  • Understanding the epidemiology of childhood poisoning is essential for targeted prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the frequency, etiology, clinical presentation, and outcomes of acute poisoning in children presenting to a tertiary care hospital.
  • To identify common poisoning agents and risk factors in the pediatric population.

Main Methods:

  • A descriptive, observational study was conducted over five years (September 1998 to August 2003).
  • Retrospective analysis of 346 cases of acute poisoning in children (1 month to 15 years) admitted to the Emergency Department.
  • Data collected included demographics, season, type of agent, route of exposure, clinical features, and outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Acute poisoning accounted for 0.93% of all Emergency Department admissions.
  • Pharmaceutical products (51%) and petroleum products (23%) were the leading causes, with anti-diarrheal drugs and kerosene oil being most frequent.
  • Gastrointestinal involvement was common (40%), with an 11% mortality rate and 6% residual damage.

Conclusions:

  • Acute poisoning poses a substantial burden on pediatric healthcare, leading to significant morbidity and mortality.
  • Public awareness and education regarding the toxicity of common drugs and household substances are vital for reducing childhood poisoning incidents.
Abstract

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