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A clinical review of acute poisoning among pediatric individuals
Rui Zhang1, Na Cui2, Lijuan Tang3
1Department of Pharmacy, Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, China.
Insights
Pediatric acute poisoning, primarily from medications, affects school-aged children and adolescents. Prevention is key, with a focus on adolescent mental well-being and prompt medical intervention for better outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Toxicology
- Clinical Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Acute poisoning in children presents a significant clinical challenge.
- Understanding trends in pediatric poisoning is crucial for effective intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the clinical characteristics of pediatric acute poisoning.
- To provide insights for diagnosis, prevention, and management strategies.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of clinical records for pediatric poisoning cases.
- Data collection included demographics, toxicant type, clinical presentation, and outcomes.
- Analysis of 232 cases admitted to a central hospital from 2017-2024.
Main Results:
- Medicinal poisoning was the most common cause (57.8%), followed by rodenticides (10.3%).
- The school-age and adolescent group (59.9%) was most affected.
- Most patients received medical intervention within 6 hours, with many hospitalized for ≤3 days.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric acute poisoning varies widely based on toxicants; most cases are preventable.
- Emphasizes the need for enhanced preventive measures and vigilance regarding adolescent mental health.
- Highlights the importance of timely medical intervention for managing acute poisoning cases.
Objective:
This retrospective study aimed to furnish insights for the clinical diagnosis, valid prevention, and efficacious management of pediatric acute poisoning.
Methods:
The clinical records for children diagnosed primarily with acute poisoning, who were admitted to the Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2024, were retrospectively examined. Clinical information such as age, gender, time of poisoning, season, visiting time, toxicant type, poisoning route, clinical manifestations, injured organs, length of hospitalization, treatments and outcomes were collected through medical record review.
Results:
232 pediatric participants were included, with 77 (33.2%) males and 155 (66.8%) females, yielding a male-to-female ratio of 0.50:1. For age distribution, the school age and adolescent group comprised 59.9% of all cases, followed by the young child group (23.3%) and the preschool group (12.5%). Medicinal poisoning (134 cases, 57.8%) emerged as the most frequent cause of pediatric acute poisoning, followed by rodenticide poisoning (24 cases, 10.3%), herbicide poisoning (10 cases, 4.3%), and carbon monoxide (10 cases,4.3%). Medical intervention was given to the majority of patients (148 cases, 63.8%) within 6 h post-poisoning and a large proportion of patients (61.6%) were hospitalized for 3 days or fewer. In severe instances, multiple systems and organs can be impacted, resulting in irreversible bodily harm.
Conclusion:
Pediatric acute poisoning manifests in various forms and clinical presentations, influenced by the nature and dosage of toxicants involved. Most acute poisonings are preventable, highlighting the urgent need for preventive measures. Besides, it is essential for parents, educators and psychiatric professionals to be vigilant regarding the mental well-being of adolescents.
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