Accidental dapsone poisoning in children

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Toxicology
• Public Health

Background:

• Childhood accidental poisoning is an increasing public health issue, often involving household drugs and chemicals.
• A notable trend indicates a rise in poisonings due to newer pharmaceutical agents.
• Safe storage of medications is crucial to prevent pediatric exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the trends and causes of accidental poisoning in children admitted to Sree Avittam Thirunal Hospital (SATH).
• To specifically investigate the incidence and management of dapsone poisoning in pediatric cases.
• To highlight the importance of medication safety in households with young children.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of pediatric admissions at SATH, Trivandrum, during 1982.
• Identification and categorization of all cases of accidental poisoning.
• Detailed review of dapsone poisoning cases, including clinical presentation and treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

• Sixty-one cases of accidental poisoning were recorded, representing 0.61% of total pediatric admissions.
• Dapsone poisoning accounted for 9.8% of all accidental poisoning cases.
• Dapsone poisoning led to methaemoglobinaemia, which responded favorably to intravenous ascorbic acid and supportive care.

Conclusions:

• Dapsone poisoning is a significant cause of accidental poisoning in children, necessitating improved drug storage practices.
• Intravenous ascorbic acid is an effective treatment for dapsone-induced methaemoglobinaemia in pediatric patients.
• Public health awareness regarding safe medication storage is vital to reduce childhood poisoning incidents.