Abstract
Background: Acute poisoning in children is still an important public health problem and represents a frequent cause of admission in poisoning treatment and emergency units. Objectives: The aim of this (retrospective) study was to describe various characteristics of poisoning in children; (clinical and epidemiological data.) Patients and methods: Sixty six cases of children (27 males, 39 females) up to 16 years old for suspected toxicity were studied retrospectively in a one year-long period starting from January until Decemper 2017 with exclusion of patients with acute food poisoning. Detailed patients history was taken; their age, residence, date of admission, time, route and form of poisoning as well as type of causative agents. Also we analyzed their clinical presentation, lines of treatment and their outcome. Results: We found that female gender and rural residents were more affected, most cases were accidental, while suicidal and homicidal cases were less frequent. We found that time lapse from intoxication or ingestion of poison to hospital arrival was significantly less in survivors as compared to expired children. The route in most cases was by ingestion. Organophosphorus compounds were the commonest agents followed by medications. Other agents in reduced frequency were: rodenticides, kerosene, corrosives, snake bites, phenols and toothpaste. Neurological manifestations were more common than gastro intestinal, cardiac and pulmonary manifestations. Conclusion: Acute poisoning either accidental or suicidal is still a significant cause of hospital admission among children in our locality. The study recommended increasing awareness about potential toxins as well as appropriate storage of drugs and household cleaning agents to decrease the incidence of accidental poisoning. It also recommended as possible early management by supportive measures and antidotes to improve the prognosis of cases.
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