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Hospitalizations for pediatric intoxication: a study from Istanbul
Yasemin Akin1, Turgut Ağzikuru, Serdar Cömert
1Department of Pediatrics I, Dr. Lütfi Kirdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
|October 11, 2011
Summary
Pediatric hospitalizations for intoxication are common, especially in children under five. Accidental poisonings by pharmaceuticals and pesticides are the leading causes, highlighting the need for prevention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Toxicology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Intoxication is a significant cause of pediatric hospitalizations.
- Understanding epidemiological patterns is crucial for prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the epidemiological features of pediatric hospitalizations for intoxication.
- To identify common agents and circumstances of pediatric intoxications.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of medical records for children aged <=14 years.
- Data collected from 2005-2007 for intoxication admissions.
- Categorization of intoxicants as pharmaceutical or non-pharmaceutical agents.
Main Results:
- 11% of admissions (330/2989) were intoxication cases, predominantly in children <5 years old (72.1%).
- Pharmaceuticals accounted for 76.1% of cases, with psychotropics (33.9%) and tricyclic antidepressants (27.1%) being most frequent.
- Accidental poisonings (90%) were most common in <5 year olds, while self-inflicted cases (8.2%) were higher in older children (>10 years).
Conclusions:
- Pediatric intoxications, particularly accidental ingestions by young children, pose a significant health risk.
- Preventive strategies, including child-proof packaging and public education, are essential.
- Targeted interventions for different age groups are needed to reduce intoxication rates.
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