Epidemiology of paediatric poisoning presenting to a children's emergency department in Singapore over a five-year period

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Paediatric poisoning accounts for 1% of daily emergency department presentations. The aim of this study was to review the characteristics and outcomes of paediatric patients who presented with drug overdose over a five-year period.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We performed a retrospective review of paediatric poisoning cases at KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), the largest children's public hospital in Singapore, from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2013.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 1,208 cases of poisoning were seen in KKH's Department of Children's Emergency during the study period. The gender distribution was about equal, with a slight male predominance. The majority of the poisoning cases were accidental. Slightly more than half of the intentional ingestions were of paracetamol and the majority were female patients belonging to the 12-16 year age group. The bulk of poisonings occurred in children aged 1-4 via the oral route, slightly more than half of the oral ingestions consisted of oral medications and a sizeable portion were of household liquids. Mothballs and silica gels accounted for almost a quarter of the solid household products ingested. Slightly less than half of the patients required admission and only a small portion of the admitted patients required intensive or high dependency care.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The prognosis of paediatric patients who presented with poisoning in our study was good, with a short median length of stay for those admitted and no fatalities being reported across the span of five years.</p>

Organophosphorus compound poisoning deaths in children: An autopsy survey from Manipal.

A 16-year retrospective autopsy-based study (1992–2008) was undertaken by the department of forensic medicine of Kasturba Medical College, Manipal to ascertain the profile of fatal organophosphorus compound poisoning in the paediatric age group. Out of 2532 autopsies performed during the period, twenty-four victims formed the material for the study. The age group of 13–18 years was most commonly affected, with a significant male preponderance. Many of the cases were suicidal in nature. Nearly half of the victims survived for a period of more than a day after consuming poison. A seasonal variation was noticed, with many cases being reported in the summer months.