Pattern Of Acute Poisoning Research Articles

Patterns of acute poisoning- Five year study from National Poison Control Centre, Karachi, Pakistan.

To identify patterns in cases of acute toxicity reported at an urban poison control centre. The cross-sectional, retrospective study was conducted at the National Poison Control Centre, Karachi, and comprised data from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2021. Data was collected from the institutional database which is part of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi. Data of all patients diagnosed with acute poisoning was included. Data was analysed using SPSS 22. Of the 4,936 cases reported, 2,449(49.6%) were males and 2,487(50.3%) were females. Pesticide was the most common cause of toxicity 1254(25.4%). Regarding outcomes, 351(7.1%) patients expired, 3,585(72.6%) were discharged after appropriate treatment, 366(7.4%) were given outpatient and psychiatric referrals, and 634(12.8%) patients left against medical advice. The most common agent causing toxicity was pesticides, and overall mortality across the study period was 7.1%.

A Retrospective Study of Epidemiological Correlations of Food, Drug and Chemical Poisoning in Al-Baha, Western Saudi Arabia.

Poisoning is a common and severe problem worldwide. Due to significant growth in the agricultural, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries over the past few decades, poisoning risks have increased with the use of food, chemicals, and medicines everywhere in the world, especially in Saudi Arabia. Advanced information on acute poisoning patterns is critical for the effective management of poisoning events. This study aimed to examine the characteristics of patients with various patterns of acute poisoning, caused by food, drugs, and chemicals, that were reported to the Department of Toxicology and Poison Center at King Fahad Hospital and the Poison Center in Al-Baha Province, Saudi Arabia. The study also examined the relationship between demographic characteristics, including age, toxin type, and geographical distribution, and poisonings in Baha Province. This retrospective cross-sectional analysis included 622 poisoning cases. The data were collected from 2019 to 2022 and it was found that out of 622 instances, 159 had food poisoning, with more men than females sick (53.5% male and 46.5% female), 377 had drug poisoning (54.1% males and 45.9% females), and 86 had chemical poisoning (74.4% males and 25.6% females). This study found that the most prevalent agents implicated in acute poisoning were medicines, particularly analgesics and antipsychotic drugs. Food poisoning was the second most common acute poisoning, affecting largely males followed by female patients. Finally, chemical poisoning involved acute poisoning, with most cases involving methanol and household items including the strongest bleaches (chlorines) (Clorox®, Oakland, CA, USA). Insecticides and pesticides were also secondary sources of chemical poisoning. Additional research revealed that the incidence of food, chemical, and drug poisoning was highest in children aged 1-15 years (food poisoning, n = 105, 66%; drug poisoning, n = 120, 31.8%); patients aged 11-20 years had the highest incidence of chemical poisoning (n = 41, 47.7%). Most poisoning incidents among youngsters are caused by easy access to drugs at home. Implementing strategies to enhance public awareness and limit children's access to drugs would contribute considerably to decreasing the community's burden of this problem. The findings of this study suggest that Al-Baha should improve its education regarding the rational and safe use of drugs and chemicals.

Acute poisonings among children and adolescents- results of the analysis of 401 cases

IntroductionAcute poisoning is a significant concern in modern pediatrics and emergency medicine, as it is the fifth leading cause of life-threatening injuries in children under 5 years of age. The aim of this study was to analyze and evaluate the overall patterns of acute poisoning among pediatric patients admitted to the Emergency Department of the Pediatric Hospital of the Medical University of Warsaw.Material and methodsThe study is a retrospective analysis of the medical records of children aged 0–18 years admitted to the emergency department due to acute poisoning from January 2020 to June 2021 (18 months).ResultsA total of 401 children aged from 1 month to 18 years old were included in the study. It was the patient’s first poisoning in the vast majority of cases. Most cases were accidental. Acute poisoning was more common among females than males. The most common route of exposure to the poisonous substance was the oral route. The overwhelming majority of patients did not require any antidote treatment. Most children reached the hospital within 1–5 hours after taking the substance and were in generally good condition. Detergents were the most common cause of accidental poisoning, while combined pharmaceuticals and narcotics were the most common causes of intentional intoxication. No deaths were recorded.ConclusionsPediatricians and emergency department staff should be familiar with the management of acute poisoning and be aware of the changing patterns of intoxication depending on age and gender.

Pharmaceutical toxicity is a common pattern of inpatient acute poisonings in Birjand City, East of Iran

Information on the pattern of acute poisonings in hospitals of Birjand city, Iran, is limited. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap by examining the admissions in a major poisoning center in eastern Iran. This cross-sectional study included patients admitted to the Imam Reza Hospital in Birjand over 12 months. Medical records of the poisoned patients were reviewed, and the study variables were used for data analysis. During the study period, 534 cases of acute poisonings were evaluated. The patient's ages ranged from 12 to 84 years, with a high rate of poisonings between 15 and 35 years. The female predominance in poisoning cases was 52.1%. Most cases of poisonings occurred in spring, and the common route of exposure was oral (93.1%). The incidence of poisoning in married couples, uneducated patients, and residents of urban areas was 56.5%, 90.1%, and 74.6%, respectively. Patients with a previous medical history experienced addiction and psychiatric disorders. Intentional poisoning accounted for 23.4% of acute poisoning cases referred to the hospital in the current study. The main groups of toxicants were pharmaceutical products (48.1%), narcotics (25.8%), chemical products (10.1%), envenomation (7.1%), and alcohol (1.7%). The mean hospital stay was 2.5 ± 3.0 days, and the final treatment outcome was complete recovery, except for one patient intoxicated by warfarin and alprazolam. Our results indicate that the high toxicity cases were related to pharmaceutical product and opioids abuse, especially methadone (8.4%), alprazolam (7.9%), clonazepam (7.5%), and acetaminophen (9.9%) taken orally and more commonly happened at home. Due to the high rate of deliberate poisonings, especially among young adults and students, monitoring drug distribution and exceptional attention to mental health should be seriously considered by national health authorities to prevent suicide attempts.

Cardiac arrhythmias and conduction disorders in acute poisoning with cardiotoxic substances

The study is devoted to the problems of poisoning by cardiotoxic diseases.
 The relevance of the study was confirmed by the analysis of literature containing the following information: during recent decades poisoning with cardiotoxic substances while providing medical care to patients has become the main cause of premature death worldwide.
 Currently, in a number of cases of poisoning several classes of compounds for medical and non-medical purposes with cardiotoxic effects can be found. The pattern of acute poisonings is highly dependent on different regions, especially in developed and developing countries, as well as in urban and coastal areas, and it also depends on socio-economic status, cultural practices, industrial and agricultural development in industry.
 The results obtained during the study show that the toxic effects of various classes of cardiotoxicants include direct (effects on the heart, blood vessels or nervous system) and indirect effects of the poison associated with the presence of metabolic disorders (hypoxia, acidosis, electrolyte disorders), and the severity of the manifestation of the condition determination of urgent toxic arrhythmias, which worsen the course of the toxic process and most often lead to a sudden death, which is an actual study of mechanisms of toxic rhythm and conduction disorders.
 The study shows changes in the electrocardiographic patterns and mechanisms of cardiotoxic action, which can be found in the structure of poisonings, their toxic doses (concentration).
 The purpose of this study was to study the features of rhythm and conduction in case of cardiotropic poisoning.
 In the course of the study the following scientific tasks were solved: changes in the electrocardiographic pattern and manifestations of cardiotoxic action, which were broadly found in the structure of poisoning, were established, and information about their toxic doses (concentrations) was summarized.
 In our opinion, the knowledge of signs of poisoning, topical symptoms, mechanisms of formation of their effects is the key to the implementation of measures to provide medical care.
 The results of the study include practical significance for the analysis and definition of various types of medical care in case of poisoning with cardiotoxic diseases of non-medical purposes.

Acute poisoning in children in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Acute poisoning is a global pediatric emergency problem. However, a wide variation in patterns of acute poisoning and associated factors across different geographical regions was stated. As a result, our research focused on the investigation of acute poisoning in children. An Institutional-based Retrospective study design was conducted at the University of Gondar comprehensive specialized hospital from October 2016 to October 2020. The analysis of the data was performed via SPSS Version 25. Furthermore, multiple logistic regression analysis was recruited. A P-value ≤ 0.05 was declared as statistically significant. Our study's prevalence of acute poisoning was 82/5489 (1.5%). 53 (64.6%) of patients were males. Of the total patients who had the diagnosis of poisoning, 54 (65.9%) came from rural areas. Venom was the most frequent offending agent (26.8%) and oral ingestion was the most common route of exposure (70.7%). Of the total patients who had the diagnosis of poisoning, 54 (65.9%) came from rural areas. Venom was the most frequent offending agent (26.8%), followed by insecticides (organophosphates) (21.5%). Accidental poisoning was the most common mode of poisoning more often than intentional (75.6–24.4%). The digestive tract (oral ingestion) (69.5%) was the commonest route of poisoning, followed by the cutaneous (skin bite) (24.4%). Death was three times more likely in the rural population than in urban residents [AOR 2.9 (1.21–13.7); P value 0.046]. Appropriate emergency care is the mainstay of the supportive management protocol for childhood poisoning.

The Pattern of Acute Poisoning in Children in Chudary Mohammad Akram Teaching and Research Hospital Lahore

Background: Acute poisoning is one of the identifiable cause of morbidity and death in children less than five years of age. The type of substance taken and prevalence vary from place to place and over time. Aim: To assess the frequency and pattern of acute poisoning in children in Chaudhry Muhammad Akram Teaching and Research Hospital, Lahore. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the Pediatrics Emergency of Chaudhry Muhammad Akram Hospital from July 2017 to June 2019 (2 year). All cases of acute poisoning in children that presented within that period were reviewed and important information extracted by retrieving data from hospital records and patients files. Results: One hundred children were referred to pediatrics emergency departments of Chaudhry Muhammad Akram Hospital due to acute poisoning. 55(55%) were between 2-5 year of age group, 27(27%) were between 6-10 year of age group and 18(18%) were between 11-14 year old. 60(60%) were male and 40(40%) were female. There was Ingestion of poison in 97(97%) and 3 (3%) had poisoning through skin contamination. The most common poisoning agent was Corrosive 71(71 %), followed by Hydrocarbon 11(11%), Drugs 9(9%), Agrochemical 7(7%), Plants and Insect poisoning 1(1%) respectively. Conclusion: Acute poisoning is a significant cause of morbidity among children in developing countries. Acute poisoning is common in Pakistan, with appreciable mortality, Bleach being the most common agent now a days. Keywords: Acute, Poisoning, Emergency, Children, Corrosives

Pattern of acute poisoning in children in rural areas: A retrospective observational study

Introduction: Poisoning is a common emergency worldwide especially when occurring in pediatric age group. Routine surveillance and proper counselling of family members is required to avoid and prevent such situations. The study was designed to assess the spectrum of poisoning in rural areas of M.P. Methods and Materials:This was a retrospective observational study. Paediatric patients under 13 years of age admitted with acute poisoning in PICU in last 1 year were studied for presenting complaints, clinical profile and outcome. Preventive measures were also discussed. Results:85 children were admitted in PICU with acute poisoning, incidence was more in male children, mainly at home or surroundings. It was apparently accidental and more common in children less than 5 years of age. Maximum cases of acute poisoning were of scorpion sting bite (as maximum patients were from rural areas of M.P.) followed by kerosene poisoning followed by rat poison. Death was reported in patients whereas maximum patients were discharged within 5 days without any serious complications. Conclusion:Even though mortality reported due to acute poisoning is only, measures should be taken to avoid the hazard and parents should be counselled regarding taking safety measures at home.

Strox: A 3-year study of intoxicated cases admitted to Poison Control Center Ain Shams University Hospitals

Introduction: Synthetic cannabinoids abuse is a global concern, creating new challenges for treatment services. Strox is a version of synthetic cannabinoids that emerged and became increasingly popular in Egypt. Aim: To study socio-demographic and clinical characteristics in addition to causes of deaths in patients with acute Strox toxicity who presented to Poison Control Center Ain Shams University Hospitals (PCCA). Methods: a cross-sectional hospital-based observational study was carried out on 92 patients with Strox toxicity during a 3 year period from 2018 to 2020. Recorded data included: age, gender, route, mode of exposure and vital data. Investigation including arterial blood gases (ABG), liver function tests (LFT) and renal function tests (RFT) and ECG were done. Outcome data including duration of hospital stay, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mortality rate were recorded. Results: Cases were mainly in the age group between 13-40 years (82.6%), males (93.5%) and due to addiction (90.2 %). Coma and agitation were the main recorded presentations (63% and 34% respectively). Shock and respiratory failure were recorded in 12% and 22% respectively, while liver and renal impairment were recorded in 5% and 3% respectively. Sever intoxication was diagnosed in 78.3% with mortality rate 11%. Deaths were due to cardiac insults in 50% of the patients. Conclusion: The incidence of strox toxicity has recently increased in Egypt with high mortality rate. Cardiac and respiratory complication are the most common causes of death. Until now little is known about the pattern of acute poisoning by strox poisoning, so early recognition of sever cases and close observation in ICU with early resuscitation could help in lowering the mortality rate.

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

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.

Pattern of acute poisonings in Azerbaijan

Background: Epidemiologic data on acute chemical poisonings in Azerbaijan Republic is very limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and analyze the rate and characteristics of acute chemical poisoning cases in Azerbaijan.
 Material and methods: This investigation was performed on the data of poisoned patients admitted to the Center of Clinical Toxicology (CCT) of the Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan in Baku city from 1st January 2014 to 31st December 2016.
 Result: There were 6347 admissions due to acute poisoning in CCT intensive care unit (3593 females and 2754 males). Pediatric admissions (<15 age group) were 18.2%. The most frequent reason of hospitalizations was drug poisonings (T36-T50) – 40.9%. The other frequent cases of hospitalizations were inhalation of carbon monoxide (T58) - 21.6%, corrosive substances (T54) – 15.2% and alcohol intoxication (T51) - 5.9%. Hospitalizations of patients with envenomation (T63) - 5.2%, pesticides poisonings (T60) – 4.9%. poisoning by organic solvents (T52) - 4.5% and poisoning by noxious plants and mushrooms (T62) – 1.2% were less frequent. The mortality rate of the overall cohort was 2.7%. Corrosive liquids (especially – concentrated acetic acid) poisonings were the most often fatal.
 Conclusion: This study provides essential information about characteristic of toxicoepidemiological situation in Azerbaijan and could help to develop national program of prevention of acute chemical poisonings.

Children drug poisoning in Jeddah: Prevalence, pattern and mother’s practice

Introduction: Accidental children poisoning is a potential source of morbidity and mortality. There is a paucity of data about its burden in Saudi Arabia. Objectives: To assess the prevalence and patterns of acute poisoning in children and the response of mothers/caregivers to its incidence in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted including the mothers who attended the primary healthcare centers (PHCs) during the period from Sep to Oct 2017 Seven PHCs were randomly selected followed by selecting a proportional sample of mothers from each center. Data collection was performed through an interview with the participants via a structured questionnaire. Results: In a total of 354 mothers (69.8% with at least a high school education), 82 mothers (23.2%) reported a history of poisoning. The affected children aged 2-5 years with a slight male propensity (53.7%). Therapeutic drugs accounted for 87.8% of cases (mainly antipyretics, cough syrups and decongestants). Telephone consultation and immediate referral to the nearest PHC were the most common responses (86.1% and 70.8%, respectively). Family members were the most frequent source of information (69%) while 76.4% of the mothers had no contact with the drug poisoning center. Poisoning episodes increased significantly when the mother was less educated (P =0.017), non-working (P=0.026), had another child aged Conclusion: Accidental children poisoning represents a significant burden. Effective communication with the local drug poisoning center should be established. There is an urgent need to conduct aggressive campaigns to reduce poisoning rates. Keywords: Poisoning, Children, Saudi Arabia, Morbidity, Drug-related side effects and adverse reactions.

Pattern of acute poisonings in Azerbaijan

Background: Epidemiologic data on acute chemical poisonings in Azerbaijan Republic is very limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and analyze the rate and characteristics of acute chemical poisoning cases in Azerbaijan.
 Material and methods: This investigation was performed on the data of poisoned patients admitted to the Center of Clinical Toxicology (CCT) of the Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan in Baku city from 1st January 2014 to 31st December 2016.
 Result: There were 6347 admissions due to acute poisoning in CCT intensive care unit (3593 females and 2754 males). Pediatric admissions (<15 age group) were 18.2%. The most frequent reason of hospitalizations was drug poisonings (T36-T50) – 40.9%. The other frequent cases of hospitalizations were inhalation of carbon monoxide (T58) - 21.6%, corrosive substances (T54) – 15.2% and alcohol intoxication (T51) - 5.9%. Hospitalizations of patients with envenomation (T63) - 5.2%, pesticides poisonings (T60) – 4.9%. poisoning by organic solvents (T52) - 4.5% and poisoning by noxious plants and mushrooms (T62) – 1.2% were less frequent. The mortality rate of the overall cohort was 2.7%. Corrosive liquids (especially – concentrated acetic acid) poisonings were the most often fatal.
 Conclusion: This study provides essential information about characteristic of toxicoepidemiological situation in Azerbaijan and could help to develop national program of prevention of acute chemical poisonings.

Patterns of acute poisoning among children admitted to maternity and children, teaching hospital, Al Diwaniyah city, Iraq

Acute poisoning, a common pediatric emergency, is one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality in children, especially in developing countries. The patterns of poisoning usually differ from country to country and from province to another within the same country. The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of acute chemical and drug poisoningcases admitted to the emergency department (ED) of maternity and children, teaching hospital in Al- Diwaniyah city and to compare poisoning characteristics between different age groups in the region. A review of medical records of 125 poisoning cases under 7 years of age, except for cases of food poisoning, snake bite, scorpion stings and cases with incomplete data were not included in this study, presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) during 2016 were determined .The mean age of all poisoned patients (mean ± standard deviation) was 2.26 ± 0.750.One hundred and twenty five children, forming 2.2% (125/5494) of total emergency unit admissions of all patients, were under seven years of age. Slightly more boys 71 (56.8%) than girls 54 (43.2%) were intoxicated with the male to female ratio of 1.3:1. The majority of all cases were due to accidental poisoning. In patients younger than one year of age 23(18.4%), of all poisonings were due to therapeutically error, 1 – 3 year 47 (37.6%), 4 – 7 year 55(44%). Chemical agents (58.4%) mostly kerosene (30.1%), agricultural pesticides/insecticides (19.1%), were the most frequent offending agent, followed by drugs comprised (41.6%), mostly due to Cold and cough medication (15.3%), The vast majority of these materials was stored in non-original containers, These drugs were available at home, being used either by the child or the parents and grandparents. The most common route of poisoning was ingestion of the poison (118 patients; 94.4%) and most were ingested inside the house (73.6%). No deaths were reported.There were obvious seasonal variations and most cases were admitted during in summer (42.4%) and spring (29.6%). Patients from rural areas (57.6%) were more than the patients from the urban areas (42.4%). Effective health promotional programs for parents regarding poisoning hazards are needed to increase the awareness and reduce the incidence of poisoning among children in our region in addition correct dealing with the chemical materials. A relationship exists between the parents’ level of education and the occurrence of pediatric poisoning particularly mothers. Since the level of education in this study was lower in the mothers and for mothers are thoseWho take primary care of children at home; they should be educated regarding care and prevention of lethal injuries to their children at home.

Acute poisoning in Shenyang, China: a retrospective and descriptive study from 2012 to 2016

ObjectivesUp-to-date information on the patterns of acute poisoning is crucial for the proper management of poisoning events. The objectives of this study were to analyse the characteristics of patients suffering...

Pattern and risk factors of acute poisoning in a tertiary hospital of Central Bangladesh

Objective: Acute poisoning is a common cause of hospital admission in Bangladesh. But, risk factors and characteristics of victims of different modes of poisoning have not been evaluated for possible intervention strategies. So, in this study we aimed to describe the pattern of acute poisoning in central Bangladesh as well as identifying risk factors for various mode of poisoning. Methods: A prospective observational study was undertaken in Dhaka Medical College Hospital in 2015. Consenting adult acute poisoning victims were included as study subjects. A pretested structured case record form was used to systematically record the cases. The poisoning cases were defined by clinical toxidrome (sympathomimetic, antimuscarinic, opioids, cholinergic, sedative, etc) during acute presentation with suspected poisoning and groups accordingly. SPSS 20 was used for data analysis and statistical tests including mean ± standard division (SD), percentage, t test and chi-square were used accordingly. Results: Total poisoning cases were 1155. Suicidal (62.25%, n=719), commuter poisoning (24.16%, n=279) and accidental poisoning (12.38%, n=143) were main types of poisoning. Risk factors of suicidal poisoning were young females of 11 to 30 years, married, housewives and students (P<0.0001). Stressful relationship was the commonest reason of suicidal poisoning. Pesticides and sedatives were frequently chosen for easy availability. Commuter poisoning was common in males and urban areas (P<0.0001). Accidental poisoning was more in males and rural areas (P<0.0001) and snake envenomation was the main cause. Conclusion: Poisoning burden is high in central Bangladesh. Identified risk factors will help develop poisoning prevention strategies.

Patterns of acute poisoning among children admitted tomaternity and children,teaching hospital,Al Diwaniyah city,Iraq

Acute poisoning,a common pediatric emergency,is one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality in children,especially in developing countries. The patterns of poisoning usually differ from country to country and from province to another within the same country.The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of acute chemical and drug poisoning cases admitted to the emergency department (ED)of maternity and children,teaching hospital in Al- Diwaniyah city and to compare poisoning characteristics between different age groupsin the region. A review of medical records of 125 poisoningcases under 7 years of age, except for cases of food poisoning,snake bite,scorpion stings and cases with incomplete data were not included in this study,presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) during 2016 were determined.The mean age of all poisoned patients (mean ± standard deviation) was 2.26 ± 0.750.One hundred and twenty five children,forming 2.2% (125/5494) of total emergency unit admissions of all patients,were under seven years of age. Slightly more boys 71 (56.8%) than girls 54 (43.2%) were intoxicated with the male to female ratio of 1.3:1. The majority of all cases were due to accidental poisoning. In patients younger than one year of age 23 (18.4%),of all poisonings were due to therapeutically error,1 – 3 year 47 (37.6%),4 – 7 year 55 (44%). Chemical agents (58.4%) mostly kerosene (30.1%),agriculturalpesticides/insecticides (19.1%),were the most frequent offending agent,followed by drugs comprised (41.6%),mostly due to Cold and cough medication (15.3%),The vast majority of these materials was stored in non-original containers,These drugs were available at home,being used either by the child or the parents and grandparents.The most common route of poisoning was ingestion of the poison (118 patients; 94.4%) and most were ingested inside the house (73.6%). No deaths were reported. There were obvious seasonal variations and most cases were admitted during in summer (42.4%) and spring (29.6%). Patients from rural areas (57.6%) were more than the patients from the urban areas (42.4%). Effective health promotional programs for parents regarding poisoning hazards are needed to increase the awareness and reduce the incidence of poisoning among children in our region in addition correct dealing with the chemical materials. A relationship exists between the parents’ level of education and the occurrence of pediatric poisoning particularly mothers. Since the level of education in this study was lower in the mothers and for mothers are those Who take primary care of children at home; they should be educated regarding care and prevention of lethal injuries to their children at home.

Patterns of acute poisoning among children admitted tomaternity and children,teaching hospital,Al Diwaniyah city,Iraq

Acute poisoning,a common pediatric emergency,is one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality in children,especially in developing countries. The patterns of poisoning usually differ from country to country and from province to another within the same country.The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of acute chemical and drug poisoning.cases admitted to the emergency department (ED)ofmaternity and children,teaching hospital in Al- Diwaniyah city and to compare poisoning characteristics between different age groupsin the region. A review of medical records of 125 poisoningcases under 7 years of age, except for cases of food poisoning,snake bite,scorpion stings and cases with incomplete data were not included in this study,presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) during 2016 were determined.The mean age of all poisoned patients (mean ± standard deviation) was 2.26 ± 0.750.One hundred and twenty five children,forming 2.2% (125/5494) of total emergency unit admissions of all patients,were under seven years of age. Slightly more boys 71 (56.8%) than girls 54 (43.2%) were intoxicated with the male to female ratio of 1.3:1. The majority of all cases were due to accidental poisoning. In patients younger than one year of age 23 (18.4%),of all poisonings were due to therapeutically error,1 – 3 year 47 (37.6%),4 – 7 year 55 (44%). Chemical agents (58.4%) mostly kerosene (30.1%),agriculturalpesticides/insecticides (19.1%),were the most frequent offending agent,followed by drugs comprised (41.6%),mostly due to Cold and cough medication (15.3%),The vast majority of these materials was stored in non-original containers,These drugs were available at home,being used either by the child or the parents and grandparents.The most common route of poisoning was ingestion of the poison (118 patients; 94.4%) and most were ingested inside the house (73.6%). No deaths were reported.There were obvious seasonal variations and most cases were admitted during in summer (42.4%) and spring (29.6%). Patients from rural areas (57.6%) were more than the patients from the urban areas (42.4%). Effective health promotional programs for parents regarding poisoning hazards are needed to increase the awareness and reduce the incidence of poisoning among children in our region in addition correct dealing with the chemical materials. A relationship exists between the parents’ level of education and the occurrence of pediatric poisoning particularly mothers. Since the level of education in this study was lower in the mothers and for mothers are those who take primary care of children at home; they should be educated regarding care and prevention of lethal injuries to their children at home.

Patterns of Acute Poisoning among Pediatric Patients at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi between 2014 and 2017

Occurrences of poisoning continue to be reported in Kenya as well as in different parts of the world. Poisoning often occurs due to accidental or deliberate intake of an overdose of chemicals, medical drugs as well as plant or animal toxins. We investigated the recent patterns and extent of acute poisoning, complications and outcomes among pediatric patients treated in Kenyatta National Hospital. A crosssectional retrospective study was conducted in the Pediatric Department. Data was collected from 142 files of pediatric patients aged 0-12 years old for the period 1 st January 2014 - 30 th June 2017. Data collected included age of the patient, gender, type of poison, circumstances of poisoning, clinical presentation, severity, management and outcomes. Results obtained indicated that the age group most affected was 0-5 years old and that males were more affected than females. Poisoning was mostly attributed to accidental intake. Kerosene, organophosphates and herbal drugs were the leading causative agents. It was found that 32.4% of the patients died from various complications arising from poisoning. Keywords: Poisoning, pediatric patients, Kenyatta National Hospital, kerosene, organophosphates, herbal drugs

Retrospective Analysis of Pattern of Poisoning in Tertiary Care Hospital, Hapur; NCR Region

A retrospective study of 140 cases of poisoning received in the casualty of Rama Medical College Hospital and Research Center Hapur (Ghaziabad) Uttar Pradesh during a span of last 3 years (2014-2016) was done to know the socio-economic profile and pattern of acute poisoning in the region. All admitted and brought dead cases of acute, known and unknown poisoning, from all age were included in the study. Males and females were 62% and 38% respectively. Most common age group was 21-30 years and majority of victims were married. Most of the victims belonged to lower (33.6%) or lower-middle (60.7%) class. Organophosphate (37.1%) was the most common poisoning, followed by Celphos (21.4%) and other unknown poisoning (18.6%) responsible for more than two-third of the cases. Majority of poisoning cases (85.7%) were suggestive of suicide, of which family quarrel (31.7%) and unemployment (22.5%) or loss in business were more common in male and ill treatment by husband/in-laws (27.5%) in female.