Acute poisoning in children: Etiological agents, risk factors and outcomes. | [Pakistan Journal of Medical and Health Sciences • 2007]

Author(s):

1. Muhammad Yaqoob: The Children Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Lahore, Pakistan

2. Muhammad Yar: Lahore Medical and Dental College, Gurki Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan

3. Muhammad Farooq: Armed Forces Institute of Transfusion, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

4. Anjum Rashid Butt: Department of Gastroenterology, PGMI, Services Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan

5. Rizwan Waseem: Department of Paediatrics. Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan

6. Tahira S. Izhar: Paediatrics Department, Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract:

A total of 70 patients were thus included. The patients were followed till discharge. A Proforma was filled and results were analyzed on SPSS version 10 of computer programme. All consecutive patients of poisoning who visited the Emergency Ward during the study period fulfilling inclusion criteria were enrolled. The mean age was 2.89 years with range of 6 months to 10 years. Male to female ratio was 1.5:1. Kerosene was the commonest agent accounting for 50% of all cases, followed by pharmaceutical products (14.3%) and chemicals (12.9%). Storage of Kerosene in empty bottles of beverages and lack of proper storage of drugs were the commonest risk factors identified. Oral ingestion was the most common route of intoxication. Most of the patients (84.3%) were discharged without any sequelae. Overall mortality was 5.7%. Conclusion most of toxic substances to which children were exposed were those stored in eatable containers i.e. kerosene oil. Minority of children with accidental poisoning developed serious toxicity. Parents can prevent many of these accidents by identifying, adequately storing and locking away toxic material.

Page(s): 42-44

DOI: DOI not available

Published: Journal: Pakistan Journal of Medical and Health Sciences, Volume: 1, Issue: 1, Year: 2007

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