[Acute poisonings in children in the years 2010-2012--single-centre study in Poznań]

Poisoning is a clinical syndrome caused by the poison, which entered into the body. Poison is every substance that taken in the specified amounts may cause adverse effects.

Statistical analysis of acute poisoning in children in the years 2010-2012.

The study group consisted of 308 children who went to the Admissions Room of the Specialized Health Care Mother and Child in Poznań because acute poisoning suspicion or diagnosis, in the period from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2012.

In the group of 308 children, girls accounted for 57.14% and 42.86% boys. Children age ranged from 5 day old to 215 months of age (average 122 +/- 74). Toxic substances, which children have been exposed were drugs in 144 patients, ethyl alcohol in 75 children, carbon monoxide - 55 injured and chemicals in 34. The most commonly acute poisoning occurred in October (11.69%), December (11.04%) and September (10.71%). Of the 308 admitted children, 278 (90.26%) were hospitalized, including 11 patients (3.57%) in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). In study population poisonings with drugs were dominated and related to 63.89% of girls and 36.11% of boys, aged from 2 to 213 months of age (average 120 +/- 75). In 50.69% of children intentional poisoning was diagnosed, in 18 patients (12.5%) mixture of different drugs was ingested, in five of them together ethyl alcohol. At 4.86% of the children reported a suicide attempt. This group accounted for girls with an average age of 178 +/- 8 months. Ethyl alcohol poisoning related to 56% of girls and 44% of boys between the ages of 152 to 215 months, giving an average age of 184 +/- 17 months. At 5.33% of the patients reported alcohol consumption along with medication, and 2.66% in addition took psychoactive substances. Because carbon monoxide poisoning aid granted to 50.91% girls and 49.09% boys between the ages of five day old to 209 months of age (mean 96 +/- 64). Poisoning with household chemicals related to 58.82% of boys and 41.18% of girls (mean age 32 +/- 36 months). Detergents were the most frequent ingested chemicals in 50% of children with an average age of 3 years.

Acute poisoning with the exception of household products ingestion were more common in girls than in boys. The most common cause of poisoning in children were drugs overdose and ethanol ingestion. Cases of suicidal poisoning target group included only female sex. Accidental poisoning were observed mainly in young children and usually caused by chemicals.