Childhood poisoning: one year assessment of emergency admission to Assiut university children's hospital [2012]

ABSTRACT

The incidence of acute childhood poisoning is increasing all over the world concurrent to rapid introduction of new medicines and household chemicals. The current study has addressed the characteristics of childhood poisoning in patients presented to the Emergency Unit of Children's Hospital in Assiut University. The aim were to evaluate the magnitude, pattern, associated demographic data of overall poisoning cases in addition to assessment of clinical data, laboratory investigations, treatment and outcome for a sample from the four most commonly reported poison types. Retrospective study of archived patient's data was employed. Results indicated that 724 poisoning cases were admitted to Children's Hospital during the year 2012 mostly from Assuit governorate, of 2-<5 years old, of rural origin and without significant gender differentiation. Seven poison categories have been identified among which scorpion stings, food poisoning, pharmaceuticals and pesticides were the most prevalent types in a descending order. The specific clinical presentation and treatment of each type of the four most common poisoning types have indicated overall favorable outcome. Those suffering respiratory complications in scorpion sting cases and central nervous system manifestations in pesticides and drug poisoning were more liable to adverse outcome. The total number of deaths was 18 cases [2.5%], 13 cases resulted from scorpion stings [1.8%] and 5 cases [0.7%] from insecticide poisoning. It is recommended to raise awareness and experiences of pediatric doctors fir proper management and treatment of affected children with special emphasis in sound toxicological laboratory diagnosis and antidotal therapy especially in complicated cases. Poison prevention should continue as an integral part of prophylactic activities of infant and child health care providers