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Accidental poisoning in children

Syed Kashif Abbas1, Shiyam Sundar Tikmani, Nida Tariq Siddiqui

  • 1Department of Accident and Emergency, Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi.

JPMA. the Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association
|July 5, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Acute poisoning in children is a concern, with pharmaceutical products being the most common cause. Further research is needed to identify risk factors for accidental poisoning in pediatric populations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Toxicology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Acute poisoning in children presents a significant public health challenge.
  • Understanding poisoning patterns is crucial for developing targeted prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the epidemiological patterns of acute poisoning among children treated at Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi.
  • To identify common sources and outcomes of acute poisoning in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

  • A one-year descriptive study was conducted in a Paediatric Emergency Unit.
  • Data was collected from hospital records of children under 12 with accidental toxic substance exposure.
  • Outcomes analyzed included admission, discharge, and leaving against medical advice (LAMA).

Main Results:

  • 43 cases of accidental poisoning were recorded, representing 0.58% of emergency visits.
  • Children under 3 years old constituted the majority of cases (46.5%).
  • Pharmaceutical products (34.9%) were the leading cause, followed by kerosene, organophosphorous, alkali, and acid ingestions.

Conclusions:

  • Acute poisoning in children, though a small percentage of emergency visits, requires attention.
  • Pharmaceutical agents are a frequent source of pediatric poisoning.
  • Further investigation into risk factors for childhood poisoning is recommended.
Abstract

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