A Hospital-Based Epidemiologic Study on Acute Pediatric Poisonings in Chennai, India
Background: Toxic exposures in childhood are major health concern. In this hospital-based study, we sought to investigate socio-epidemiological factors contributing to acute pediatric poisoning in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the Kanchi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Mashhad University of Medical Sciences
2015-12-01
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| Series: | Asia Pacific Journal of Medical Toxicology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://apjmt.mums.ac.ir/article_6362_14f7792a050d808375851528f4628c44.pdf |
| _version_ | 1811322005347106816 |
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| author | Senthil Kumar Radhika Raman Lakshmi Muthukrishnan |
| author_facet | Senthil Kumar Radhika Raman Lakshmi Muthukrishnan |
| author_sort | Senthil Kumar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Toxic exposures in childhood are major health concern. In this hospital-based study, we sought to investigate socio-epidemiological factors contributing to acute pediatric poisoning in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital (KKCTH), a tertiary care hospital for children in Chennai. Children and adolescents less than 18 years of age with diagnosis of acute poisoning during June 2014 to January 2015 were included in the study.
Results: During the study period, 10500 children were admitted to emergency department of the hospital; among which, 34 children presented with diagnosis of acute poisoning (0.32% of admissions). Eighteen patients (52.9%) were boys. The greatest proportion of patients (52.9%) aged 1 to 3 years. Regarding the intention of poisoning, 27 cases (79.4%) occurred following unintentional ingestion by children, 5 cases (14.7%) following inadvertent administration of medication(s) by a caregiver and 2 cases (5.9%) following inadvertent administration by a sibling. Children had relatively equal chance of being poisoned with medications (n = 18, 52.9%) and common household agents (n = 16, 47.1%). The most common medicines responsible for the poisonings were neuropsychiatric medicines (n = 6, 17.6%). None of the medications responsible for poisoning had childproof containers. On admission, only 14 children (41.2%) were symptomatic. Fifteen patients (44.1%) required admission to hospital wards and 4 patients (11.8%) required intensive care. The remaining patients only needed close observation for a few hours. All children made complete recovery and there was no mortality.
Conclusion:Children especially toddlers of either gender are vulnerable to unintentional exposures and need constant supervision by an adult. Educating caregivers about the fatalities associated with unprotected storage of medications, and dangers of placing hazardous chemicals in the reach of children will reduce a great number of poisoning in children. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T13:27:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d72e7acd8f674c318030b7bfcb8d91e3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2322-2611 2322-4320 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T13:27:34Z |
| publishDate | 2015-12-01 |
| publisher | Mashhad University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Asia Pacific Journal of Medical Toxicology |
| spelling | doaj.art-d72e7acd8f674c318030b7bfcb8d91e32022-12-22T02:45:05ZengMashhad University of Medical SciencesAsia Pacific Journal of Medical Toxicology2322-26112322-43202015-12-014415616010.22038/apjmt.2015.63626362A Hospital-Based Epidemiologic Study on Acute Pediatric Poisonings in Chennai, IndiaSenthil Kumar0Radhika Raman1Lakshmi Muthukrishnan2Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital, The CHILDS Trust Medical Research Foundation, Chennai, IndiaKanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital, The CHILDS Trust Medical Research Foundation, Chennai, IndiaKanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital, The CHILDS Trust Medical Research Foundation, Chennai, IndiaBackground: Toxic exposures in childhood are major health concern. In this hospital-based study, we sought to investigate socio-epidemiological factors contributing to acute pediatric poisoning in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital (KKCTH), a tertiary care hospital for children in Chennai. Children and adolescents less than 18 years of age with diagnosis of acute poisoning during June 2014 to January 2015 were included in the study. Results: During the study period, 10500 children were admitted to emergency department of the hospital; among which, 34 children presented with diagnosis of acute poisoning (0.32% of admissions). Eighteen patients (52.9%) were boys. The greatest proportion of patients (52.9%) aged 1 to 3 years. Regarding the intention of poisoning, 27 cases (79.4%) occurred following unintentional ingestion by children, 5 cases (14.7%) following inadvertent administration of medication(s) by a caregiver and 2 cases (5.9%) following inadvertent administration by a sibling. Children had relatively equal chance of being poisoned with medications (n = 18, 52.9%) and common household agents (n = 16, 47.1%). The most common medicines responsible for the poisonings were neuropsychiatric medicines (n = 6, 17.6%). None of the medications responsible for poisoning had childproof containers. On admission, only 14 children (41.2%) were symptomatic. Fifteen patients (44.1%) required admission to hospital wards and 4 patients (11.8%) required intensive care. The remaining patients only needed close observation for a few hours. All children made complete recovery and there was no mortality. Conclusion:Children especially toddlers of either gender are vulnerable to unintentional exposures and need constant supervision by an adult. Educating caregivers about the fatalities associated with unprotected storage of medications, and dangers of placing hazardous chemicals in the reach of children will reduce a great number of poisoning in children.http://apjmt.mums.ac.ir/article_6362_14f7792a050d808375851528f4628c44.pdfEpidemiologyIndiaPediatricsPoisoning |
| spellingShingle | Senthil Kumar Radhika Raman Lakshmi Muthukrishnan A Hospital-Based Epidemiologic Study on Acute Pediatric Poisonings in Chennai, India Asia Pacific Journal of Medical Toxicology Epidemiology India Pediatrics Poisoning |
| title | A Hospital-Based Epidemiologic Study on Acute Pediatric Poisonings in Chennai, India |
| title_full | A Hospital-Based Epidemiologic Study on Acute Pediatric Poisonings in Chennai, India |
| title_fullStr | A Hospital-Based Epidemiologic Study on Acute Pediatric Poisonings in Chennai, India |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Hospital-Based Epidemiologic Study on Acute Pediatric Poisonings in Chennai, India |
| title_short | A Hospital-Based Epidemiologic Study on Acute Pediatric Poisonings in Chennai, India |
| title_sort | hospital based epidemiologic study on acute pediatric poisonings in chennai india |
| topic | Epidemiology India Pediatrics Poisoning |
| url | http://apjmt.mums.ac.ir/article_6362_14f7792a050d808375851528f4628c44.pdf |
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