Acute poisonings among children and adolescents- results of the analysis of 401 cases

Abstract

IntroductionAcute poisoning is a significant concern in modern pediatrics and emergency medicine, as it is the fifth leading cause of life-threatening injuries in children under 5 years of age. The aim of this study was to analyze and evaluate the overall patterns of acute poisoning among pediatric patients admitted to the Emergency Department of the Pediatric Hospital of the Medical University of Warsaw.Material and methodsThe study is a retrospective analysis of the medical records of children aged 0–18 years admitted to the emergency department due to acute poisoning from January 2020 to June 2021 (18 months).ResultsA total of 401 children aged from 1 month to 18 years old were included in the study. It was the patient’s first poisoning in the vast majority of cases. Most cases were accidental. Acute poisoning was more common among females than males. The most common route of exposure to the poisonous substance was the oral route. The overwhelming majority of patients did not require any antidote treatment. Most children reached the hospital within 1–5 hours after taking the substance and were in generally good condition. Detergents were the most common cause of accidental poisoning, while combined pharmaceuticals and narcotics were the most common causes of intentional intoxication. No deaths were recorded.ConclusionsPediatricians and emergency department staff should be familiar with the management of acute poisoning and be aware of the changing patterns of intoxication depending on age and gender.