TY - JOUR PY - 2019// TI - Evaluation of poisoning cases admitted to pediatric emergency department JO - International journal of pediatrics and adolescent medicine A1 - Gokalp, G. SP - 109 EP - 114 VL - 6 IS - 3 N2 - BACKGROUND: Every year, more than one million children lose their lives due to preventable accidents. Poisoning is the most common among these accidents.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated the demographic and clinical characteristics of poisoning cases referred to the pediatric emergency department.

METHODS: The cases (0-18 years old) related to complaints of intoxication in the pediatric emergency department between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017, were examined retrospectively.

RESULTS: The study included 453 patients, with 202 (46.4%) female and 233 (53.6%) male patients. The mean age of the patients was 51.12 months. The most frequent poisoning agents were 211 (46.6%) household cleaning products and 172 (38%) drugs. When the mechanism of poisoning was examined, it was determined that 377 (83.2%) cases were accidental and 47 (10.4%) cases were suicide attempts. It was observed that 286 (45.8%) items were not in original packaging and 95% of those in original packaging were not locked.

CONCLUSION: To avoid childhood poisoning that may have widespread and serious consequences, the poisonous products should be sold with locked covers and kept in places where children cannot reach them. © 2019 King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (General Organization), Saudi Arabia

Language: en

LA - en SN - 2352-6467 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpam.2019.07.004 ID - ref1 ER -