Poisoning in the pediatric age group with special reference to cases admitted in the intensive care unit

ABSTRACT

This work aimed to review the subject of acute poisoning in children. The work included clinical evaluation of fifty infants and children with acute poisoning. Analysis of the results obtained revealed that age ranged from one month to twelve years with a peak incidence below one year [42%].Male to female ratio was approximately equal. Poisoning with drugs was found to be the commonest [74%], followed by household products [12%], unknown poisons [8%] and lastly scorpion stings [6%].Seasonal variation seemed to play an important role in acute poisoning since72% of cases occurred in hot seasons.Most common presentingsymptomswereneurologicalmanifestations [78%],followedbyrespiratory[52%]andgastrointestinal manifestations [20%].The fate of the cases was mainly recovery in 80%, while 20% of cases died