A study on profile of poisoning in pediatric population

Abstract

Background: Children are curious and explore their world with all their senses. As a result, surroundings can be a dangerous place when poisonous substances are inadvertently ingested - every year millions of calls are made to poison control centres when this happens and thousands of children are admitted to emergency departments. Poisoning patterns change according to age group, the nature and dose of the poison, type of exposure. This study is aimed at understanding the incidence, aetiology and manner of poisoning, outcome among children less than 18 years admitted to Paediatric department KIMS.Methods: Prospectively, 38 poisoning cases admitted to Paediatric intensive care, KIMS Bangalore from August 2015 to July 2016 were included in this study. The age and sex of the patient, poisoning agent, manner of poisoning, duration of hospital stay and outcome of all the patients were recorded and analysed.Results: Out of 38, 16 (42%) are males, 22 (58%) are females. 13 (34%) cases are <5years of age, 2(5%) cases are between 5-10 year, 23 (61%) cases are above 10 years. Among all, 13 (34%) cases of drugs consumption, among these 11 cases were above 10 years representing purposeful consumption. 5 (13%) cases of kerosene consumption. Out 4 (11%) cases of Organophosphorous poison, 3 cases are above 10 years representing purposeful consumption. 4 (10%) cases of acid consumption. 4 (11%) cases of aluminium phosphide poisoning. 3 (8%) cases of Good night oil consumption. 2 (5%)cases of eucalyptus oil consumption. 3(8%) cases of camphor poisoning. 2 (5%) cases died due to aluminium phosphide poisoning. Duration of hospital stay varied from 1 day to 6 days. Conclusions: Accidental poisoning is common in children below 5 years of age. Suicidal poison incidence is increasing among teenagers either due to exam stress or peer pressure. Accidental poisoning can be reduced by simple measures like parental education, replacing the poisoning agent with one of lower toxicity, legislation regarding the child resistant packaging of necessary poisons.