Poisoning Cases Admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Department: A Retrospective Evaluation

Introduction:Intoxication in childhood is an important preventable public health problem and can cause morbidity and mortality. In this study, we investigated the clinical and demographic characteristics of patients who presented to our pediatric emergency department in the last 4 years due to poiso...

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Main Authors: Yusuf Güzel, Fatih Battal, Hakan Aylanç
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Galenos Yayinevi 2022-04-01
Series:Journal of Pediatric Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access: http://www.caybdergi.com/archives/archive-detail/article-preview/poisoning-cases-admitted-to-the-pediatric-emergenc/51337
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author Yusuf Güzel
Fatih Battal
Hakan Aylanç
author_facet Yusuf Güzel
Fatih Battal
Hakan Aylanç
author_sort Yusuf Güzel
collection DOAJ
description Introduction:Intoxication in childhood is an important preventable public health problem and can cause morbidity and mortality. In this study, we investigated the clinical and demographic characteristics of patients who presented to our pediatric emergency department in the last 4 years due to poisoning.Methods:Records of 238 children aged 1 month to 18 years who applied to Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Faculty of Medicine, Pediatric Emergency Department between January 2015 and January 2019 were evaluated retrospectively. Cases were examined in terms of age, gender, time to first medical intervention after drug intake, cause of poisoning, intake method, and symptoms.Results:Of the 238 patients, 45% were female. The median age was 59.34 (interquartile range: 3-215) months, and 57.15% of the patients were <5 years old, 23.1% were >12 years old, and 8.1% were accidental cases, 26.9% were poisoned following a suicide attempt. The mean time to presentation to our center was 91.2±75.6 min. Poisoning most commonly occurred in the spring months (29.83%). Among drug poisons, analgesics were the most common (23.41%); 60.51% of the cases were asymptomatic, while the most common symptoms were nausea and vomiting.Conclusion:Suicidal poisoning is seen less frequently in children. The main cause of poisoning is an accidental intake of medication. In addition to the measures taken by caregivers, parents, drug manufacturers, and healthcare workers, determining the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of poisoning will contribute to the reduction of mortality and morbidity among children.
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spelling doaj.art-3cea0d92efe24a8ca8097ea9a2e4284c2023-02-15T16:09:19ZengGalenos YayineviJournal of Pediatric Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine2146-23992148-73322022-04-01911610.4274/cayd.galenos.2020.7576813049054Poisoning Cases Admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Department: A Retrospective EvaluationYusuf Güzel0Fatih Battal1Hakan Aylanç2 Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Çanakkale, Turkey Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Çanakkale, Turkey Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Çanakkale, Turkey Introduction:Intoxication in childhood is an important preventable public health problem and can cause morbidity and mortality. In this study, we investigated the clinical and demographic characteristics of patients who presented to our pediatric emergency department in the last 4 years due to poisoning.Methods:Records of 238 children aged 1 month to 18 years who applied to Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Faculty of Medicine, Pediatric Emergency Department between January 2015 and January 2019 were evaluated retrospectively. Cases were examined in terms of age, gender, time to first medical intervention after drug intake, cause of poisoning, intake method, and symptoms.Results:Of the 238 patients, 45% were female. The median age was 59.34 (interquartile range: 3-215) months, and 57.15% of the patients were <5 years old, 23.1% were >12 years old, and 8.1% were accidental cases, 26.9% were poisoned following a suicide attempt. The mean time to presentation to our center was 91.2±75.6 min. Poisoning most commonly occurred in the spring months (29.83%). Among drug poisons, analgesics were the most common (23.41%); 60.51% of the cases were asymptomatic, while the most common symptoms were nausea and vomiting.Conclusion:Suicidal poisoning is seen less frequently in children. The main cause of poisoning is an accidental intake of medication. In addition to the measures taken by caregivers, parents, drug manufacturers, and healthcare workers, determining the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of poisoning will contribute to the reduction of mortality and morbidity among children. http://www.caybdergi.com/archives/archive-detail/article-preview/poisoning-cases-admitted-to-the-pediatric-emergenc/51337 poisoningchildemergency departmentsretrospective studies
spellingShingle Yusuf Güzel
Fatih Battal
Hakan Aylanç
Poisoning Cases Admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Department: A Retrospective Evaluation
Journal of Pediatric Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine
poisoning
child
emergency departments
retrospective studies
title Poisoning Cases Admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Department: A Retrospective Evaluation
title_full Poisoning Cases Admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Department: A Retrospective Evaluation
title_fullStr Poisoning Cases Admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Department: A Retrospective Evaluation
title_full_unstemmed Poisoning Cases Admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Department: A Retrospective Evaluation
title_short Poisoning Cases Admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Department: A Retrospective Evaluation
title_sort poisoning cases admitted to the pediatric emergency department a retrospective evaluation
topic poisoning
child
emergency departments
retrospective studies
url http://www.caybdergi.com/archives/archive-detail/article-preview/poisoning-cases-admitted-to-the-pediatric-emergenc/51337
work_keys_str_mv AT yusufguzel poisoningcasesadmittedtothepediatricemergencydepartmentaretrospectiveevaluation
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