Retrospective Study of Acute Pediatric Intoxication Cases by Household Products Presented to the Poison Control Center of Ain-Shams University Hospitals

Abstract

Background: Acute poisoning in children is a crucial pediatric emergency and may be a worldwide problem.
This study aims to acknowledge the incidence of acute poisoning by household products in children regarding
demographic factors, common clinical presentation and outcome of management.
Methods: this is often a descriptive retrospective study conducted on patients admitted to the Poison Control
Centre of Ain-Shams University Hospital. The duration of the study was one year, from the beginning of
January, 2016 till the top of December, 2016. the entire number of cases was 846 cases collected and analyzed
regarding the demographic data, condition of poisoning, common clinical presentation, and management
plan. Data was analyzed using computer software package SPSS 15.
Results: a complete of 846 cases were reviewed, the varied age groups involved ranged from but one year to
18 years, with a mean age of 10.22 ± 6.83 years. Most cases were females (67 %), living in urban areas (52.4
%) and therefore the majority of cases were accidental (74 %). the foremost common offending agent was
pesticides (71%). Most of the patients were vitally stable on admission and therefore the commonest clinical
presentation was gastrointestinal symptoms (31.3%). Most of cases received medical treatment within the
inpatient wards (80.5%) and (96.7%) improved while (3.3 %) died.
Conclusions: Acute poisoning by household products is common among adolescents and pre-school age
children. Pesticides were liable for the bulk of cases. Supportive and symptomatic therapy is that the main
method for treatment.