P375 Accidental poisoning in paediatric patients – latest folow-up

Abstract

Background and aimsAcute accidental poisoning represent o major cause of morbidity and also sometimes mortality among young children and teenagers. In preschool age, poisoning seems to be mainly accidental. The child needs to explore, but also has a specific curiosity which leads to accidental ingestion on unattended pills or different household products. Parasuicidal behaviour or suicidal attempts remain prerogative for teenage period, especially in disorganised families or in case of psycho-affective inappropriate environment for child development.This study aims to alarm for the constantly increasing number of cases of acute accidental poisoning and to identify risk factors.MethodsThe present paper represents a retrospective study of 225 paediatric patients admitted in Emergency Children Hospital ‘Louis Turcanu’ Timisoara between 2013 and 2015 for acute accidental poisoning. We used Microsoft Excel for analysing data.ResultsOf a total of 406 patients admitted on Toxicology Department, more than half (225) were accidental events and mainly non-drug poisonings (67,5%). Accidental/Voluntary poisoning ratio was 1,24:1 with a slightly predominance in boys for accidental poisoning with male : female ratio is 1,27:1. The majority of accidental poisoning cases (58%, 130 cases) occurred in small childhood (under 3 years of age) due to the lack of child surveillance or/and inappropriate use or storage of household products, fuel or unsupervised medication. Carbon monoxide poisoning shows homogenous distribution by age group, while nitrite poisoning is typical for toddler. Analysing environmental origin we showed a mild frequency in rural versus urban environment.ConclusionsAccidental poisonings represent a frequent reason for hospital presentation and/or admission. Risk factors include inappropriate environment, young parents, disorganised families, insufficient child surveillance for small age, curiosity, ADHD behaviour. We support ‘Keep away from child’ sign on each harmful product or medication and awakening parents of accidental harmful poisoning in a carelessness moment.

Epidemiological study on accidental poisonings in children from northeast romania

“…The frequency of intoxications was slightly higher in males (1.24:1) and in children aged <3 years old. [ 6 ]…”

Epidemiological Profile of Accidental Poisoning in Children, Retrospective Study at Benghazi Children’s Hospital, Libya, 2021

“…It represents one of the main causes of morbidity and even mortality in pediatrics, occurring in virtually every country in the world, including both developing and welldeveloped countries [4,5]. Most poisonings that occur in young children are unintentional and seem to be mainly accidental [6,7,3]. Because children most of the time are at home, the home and its environment can be an unsafe place in which poisonous substances are unintentionally ingested [3].…”

“…Also, the curiosity of children leads to accidental ingestion of unattended pills or different household products like; domestic cleaning products, pesticides, and other medicinal products. [2,7] as well as due to parental negligence in keeping medicines and household chemicals; out of reach of children [3].…”

Necessity of Intensive Care Requirement in Childhood Intoxicity

“…Olgular özellikle çocuk acil servis başvurularının önemli bir kısmını oluşturmaktadır; 1,2 sadece Amerika Birleşik Devletleri'nde yılda 2,2 milyon olgunun zehirlenme nedeniyle hastaneye başvurduğu ve bu olguların yarıya yakınının altı yaş altındaki çocuklar olduğu bilinmektedir. [3][4][5] Ülkemizde ise mevcut istatistik verileri, acil servis başvurularının %0,5-1,57 arasında olduğunu bildirmektedir. 6 Ülkemiz koşullarında zehirlenme olgularına genel yaklaşım, hastaya ilk müdahalenin yapılmasının ardından, 114 Ulusal Zehir Danışma Merkezi'nin aranmasıdır.…”