Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Poisoning defined as any substance causing a harmful effect when administrated accidently. Acute accidental poisoning is important medical emergency in children worldwide.
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the pattern of accidental poisoning in children, the association between accidental poisoning with gender and residence and to determine the clinical presentation and outcome of each poison.
METHODS:
A prospective study was carried out in Childs Central teaching hospital in Baghdad for all children bellow ten years with history of accidental poisoning during six months period Data including: age, gender, residence, type of poisoning, presenting symptoms, and outcome were studied.
RESULTS:
Total number of children admitted were 10280 cases, of these 250 cases were presented with history of accidental poisoning, accounting for (2.43%) of total cases admitted. Most of patients (93.2%) were within age group of 1-5years.Males to females ratio was (1.27:1).Most common poison was hydrocarbons(50.8%) followed by medications(31.2%) .Most of patients were from urban backgrounds(78.0%).Vomiting was the most common clinical presentation(28.8%). (80.0%) Patients discharged from emergency reception within 24 hours .The mortality rates were (0.8%) .
CONCLUSION:
Poisoning in children are well recognized problem and affecting large number of children. The mortality rate was low.