An Analysis of Behavioural Characteristics in Children With Unintentional Poisoning

Abstract

BACKGROUND Unintentional poisoning is the major cause of morbidity in children. 1 More than 50% of the poisoning occurs in children under the age of 6. Younger children with their natural curiosity and with their recently acquired hand skills and mobility explore more and may accidentally get poisoned. These age group children are undergoing the oral stage of their psychological development. Hence, most childhood poisoning occurs from ingestion. 2 MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a case control analytical study. Purposive sampling method was used for the study. The population in this study were children below 5 years of age who were admitted with unintentional poisoning in Government Medical College, Kottayam during the study period. Studied 23 cases and 23 controls. The tools used for the study were clinical examination proforma, CBCL 1½-5 years questionnaire. Mann-Whitney U test was used for analysis of data. The study focused to determine, which problem items tend to occur together for a syndrome in a child with unintentional poisoning. RESULTS The total score of CBCL were found to be high in children with unintentional poisoning (median of 58) compared to the childre n without poisoning (median of 48). Children with unintentional poisoning were having CBCL 1½-5 scores with a median value closer to maximum scores in the aspects of withdrawn (2, 4); attention problems (5, 9); aggressive behaviour (13, 23); internalising (12, 23); externalising (18, 28) and total problems (45, 80). Compared to the control group, children with unintentional poisoning were having significant increase in internalising problems like withdrawn nature and somatic complaints and externalising problems like aggression and attention problems. Sleep problems were also found to be increased in children with unintentional poisoning compared to age and sex matched controls. CONCLUSION Internalising and externalising problems were found to be increased in children with unintentional poisoning. So the parents can be made aware of the behaviours of the child which can lead to poisoning and precautionary methods can be taken.