[Drug poisoning in children in Vojvodina]

Epidemiological characteristics of acute drug poisoning in children were investigated over a period of two years (1988-1989). The total number of poisonings was 450. Among causes of poisoning psychopharmaca, especially benzodiazepine, came first (33.3%). They were followed by drugs affecting the nervous system (9.1%), usually by analgoantipyretics, and by drugs affecting the cardiovascular system (7.8%). In 10.6% of the cases poisoning was due to two or more drugs. In 12.3% of the poisonings drug was unknown. Sodium fluoride was the most frequent single cause of acute poisoning. The average age of the poisoned children was 5.1 years. Poisoning with drugs was more frequent among girls than among boys (55:45%). In more than half poisoning accidents there was no one present when poisoning occurred. A major number of poisonings were an attention-getting gesture or a suicidal attempt. There were 11 cases of repeated poisoning with the same drug.