Incidence and Pattern of Acute Poisoning among Children Aged 1 Month to 18 Years : An Experience from Jammu

Introduction: Acute poisoning is one of the commonest pediatric emergencies and an important cause of mortality. Objectives: To study the magnitude and demographic profile of acute poisoning among hospitalized children (1Month-18 years of age) in Jammu, India.

Materials & method: All the children between one month and eighteen years of age, admitted to Pediatric wards of SMGS Hospital, Government Medical College, Jammu, India, over a period of one year as a case of acute poisoning were included in the study. The information obtained from Subjects / Parents / Guardians and examination of subjects was recorded on a pretested proforma and analyzed.

Results: A total of 245 (1.76% of total admissions) children were admitted with acute poisoning during the study period. Male - Female ratio was1.58:1. Majority 243(99.18%) patients were of oral poisoning and maximum were in the age group of more than one to five years (71.42%). Majority 219(89.39%) patients of acute poisoning were accidental. Suicidal attempts constituted 2.45% and 1.22% cases were of homicidal nature. Majority (41.63%) of poisoning cases were due to accidental ingestion of household products followed by drugs ingestion (23.67%), food poisoning (16.33%) and agricultural/industrial products ingestion (9.8% cases). Maximum 187(76.33%) patients of acute poisoning recovered whereas 3 patients (1.22%) died.

Conclusion: Acute poisoning in children is usually accidental with favorable outcome. Deaths do occur depending upon the nature of poisoning and the stage at which patient seeks medical care. Poisoning can be prevented by increasing public awareness, counseling and correct guidance to the parents.