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Evaluation of poisoning cases admitted to pediatric emergency department
1Izmir Katip Celebi University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Emergency, Turkey.
Insights
Childhood poisoning is a major concern, with household cleaning products and drugs being common culprits. Secure storage and child-resistant packaging are crucial to prevent accidental poisonings in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Toxicology
- Public Health
Background:
- Preventable childhood accidents cause over a million deaths annually.
- Poisoning is the leading cause of accidental childhood fatalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the demographic and clinical profiles of pediatric poisoning cases.
- To identify common poisoning agents and mechanisms in children.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of pediatric emergency department cases (0-18 years).
- Data collected from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2017.
- Examined poisoning agents, mechanisms, and product storage conditions.
Main Results:
- 453 patients included; mean age 51.12 months.
- Most common agents: household cleaning products (46.6%) and drugs (38%).
- 83.2% of poisonings were accidental; 45.8% of products were not in original packaging, and 95% of those in original packaging were unlocked.
Conclusions:
- Childhood poisoning has severe consequences.
- Recommendations include child-resistant packaging and secure storage away from children.
- Preventive measures are essential to reduce poisoning incidents.
Background:
Every year, more than one million children lose their lives due to preventable accidents. Poisoning is the most common among these accidents.
Objective:
In this study, we investigated the demographic and clinical characteristics of poisoning cases referred to the pediatric emergency department.
Methods:
The cases (0-18 years old) related to complaints of intoxication in the pediatric emergency department between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017, were examined retrospectively.
Results:
The study included 453 patients, with 202 (46.4%) female and 233 (53.6%) male patients. The mean age of the patients was 51.12 months. The most frequent poisoning agents were 211 (46.6%) household cleaning products and 172 (38%) drugs. When the mechanism of poisoning was examined, it was determined that 377 (83.2%) cases were accidental and 47 (10.4%) cases were suicide attempts. It was observed that 286 (45.8%) items were not in original packaging and 95% of those in original packaging were not locked.
Conclusion:
To avoid childhood poisoning that may have widespread and serious consequences, the poisonous products should be sold with locked covers and kept in places where children cannot reach them.
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