The pattern of acute poisoning in hospitalized children under 18 years old of Yazd, Iran

Abstract

Acute poisoning is a common cause of emergency department visits in childhood and can increase children’s morbidity and mortality. Since the causes of child poisoning in different parts of Iran may differ due to cultural differences, this study was conducted to evaluate the most common causes of poisoning in Yazd. This retrospective cross-sectional study is based on the medical records of children less than 18 years of age admitted to the pediatric emergency department at Shahid Sadoughi Hospital in Yazd during 2018. The collected data included demographic information, the cause, and the outcome of acute poisoning. Out of 105 cases, 61.9% were boys. The highest poisoning rates were in the age group of 1 to 4 years (55.2%). In 50% of the participants, the family size was five or more, and 91% had Iranian nationality. Drugs were identified as the most common causes of poisoning (51.4%), and opioid analgesics were the most frequent drugs. The most common complaint at the time of referral in patients was the loss of consciousness (33%). The mean hospital stay was 56 hours, and no death was reported. According to the findings of this study in Yazd, the probability of accidental poisoning in boys under four years and due to different types of drugs, especially opioids, was higher than others. It seems that increasing parents’ awareness about keeping drugs used by family members in a safe place and out of children’s reach is essential in preventing poisoning.