Acute poisoning in children.

Abstract

To determine the frequency, etiology, clinical presentation and outcome of acute poisoning in children presenting to a tertiary care hospital. Descriptive and observational study. Emergency Department of the Children's Hospital and the Institute of Child Health, Lahore. Over five years from September 1998 to August 2003. All cases of suspected or confirmed acute poisoning in children (1 month to 15 years) were retrospectively analyzed by retrieving data from hospital records and from patients files where possible. Variables like demographic data, season of presentation, type of agent, route of exposure and outcome were studied for all cases. Detailed files were available for 90 patients in whom place of exposure, risk factors and clinical features were also studied. Three hundred and forty-six cases of acute poisoning were registered during the study period, which constitute 0.93% of all ER admission. Most (59%) were less than 2 years of age with median age of 18 months (SD+ 32.6). Majority (80%) belonged to urban areas and presented during summer and monsoon season (57%). Pharmaceutical products were the leading cause (51%) followed by petroleum products (23%), chemicals (8.4%), household substances (7.6%) and unidentifiable agents in 10% cases. Anti-diarrhoeal drugs and kerosene oil were the two most frequent agents involved and ingestion remained the primary route of exposure. Gastrointestinal system was primarily involved in 40% patients. Eighty percent patients were discharged, 6% with residual damage while 11% patients died of poisoning or its complications. Acute poisoning carries a significant impact as regards morbidity and mortality. Awareness and education about the potential toxicity of commonly used drugs and household substances may help in reducing the burden of acute poisoning in children.