Sonya M S Azab1, Jon Mark Hirshon, John Mark Hirshon2,3, Bryan D Hayes4, Maged El-Setouhy5,6, Gordon S Smith7, Mahmoud Lotfy Sakr1,8, Hany Tawfik8, Wendy Klein-Schwartz9. 1. a Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine , Ain Shams University , Cairo , Egypt ; 2. b Department of Emergency Medicine , University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA ; 3. c Charles McC. Mathias. Jr. National Study Center for Trauma and EMS , University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA ; 4. d Department of Pharmacy Services , University of Maryland Medical Center , Baltimore , MD , USA ; 5. e Department of Community , Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University , Cairo , Egypt ; 6. f Substance Abuse Research Center, Jazan University , Jazan , Saudi Arabia ; 7. g Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science , Maryland Poison Center, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy , Baltimore , MD , USA ; 8. h Poisoning Treatment Center, Ain Shams University Hospitals , Cairo , Egypt ; 9. i Maryland Poison Center, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy , Baltimore , MD , USA.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Pediatric poisonings represent a major and preventable cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Epidemiologic information about poisoning among children in many lower- and middle-income countries is scarce. This study describes the epidemiology of acute poisonings in children presenting to Ain Shams University's Poisoning Treatment Center (ASU-PTC) in Cairo and determines the causative agents and characteristics of acute poisoning in several pediatric age groups. METHODS: This retrospective study involved acutely poisoned patients, 0-18 years of age, who presented to the ASU-PTC between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2013. Data were extracted from electronic records maintained by the ASU-PTC. Collected data included demographics, substance of exposure, circumstances of the poisoning, patient disposition, and outcome. RESULTS: During the 5-year study period, 38 470 patients meeting our criteria were treated by the ASU-PTC; 19 987 (52%) were younger than 6 years of age; 4196 (11%) were 6-12 years; and 14 287 (37%) were >12 years. Unintentional poisoning accounted for 68.5% of the ingestions, though among adolescents 84.1% of ingestions were with self-harm intent. In all age groups, the most frequent causative drugs were non-opioid analgesics, antipyretics, and antirheumatics. The most common nonpharmaceutical agents were corrosives in preschool children and pesticides in adolescents. Most patients had no/minor effects (29 174 [75.8%]); hospitalization rates were highest among adolescents. There were 119 deaths (case fatality rate of 0.3), primarily from pesticide ingestion. CONCLUSION: Poisoning in preschool children is mainly unintentional and commonly due to nonpharmaceutical agents whereas poisoning in adolescents is mainly intentional (self-harm). Pesticides, mainly organophosphorous compounds and carbamates, were the most frequent agents leading to morbidity and mortality.
INTRODUCTION: Pediatric poisonings represent a major and preventable cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Epidemiologic information about poisoning among children in many lower- and middle-income countries is scarce. This study describes the epidemiology of acute poisonings in children presenting to Ain Shams University's Poisoning Treatment Center (ASU-PTC) in Cairo and determines the causative agents and characteristics of acute poisoning in several pediatric age groups. METHODS: This retrospective study involved acutely poisoned patients, 0-18 years of age, who presented to the ASU-PTC between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2013. Data were extracted from electronic records maintained by the ASU-PTC. Collected data included demographics, substance of exposure, circumstances of the poisoning, patient disposition, and outcome. RESULTS: During the 5-year study period, 38 470 patients meeting our criteria were treated by the ASU-PTC; 19 987 (52%) were younger than 6 years of age; 4196 (11%) were 6-12 years; and 14 287 (37%) were >12 years. Unintentional poisoning accounted for 68.5% of the ingestions, though among adolescents 84.1% of ingestions were with self-harm intent. In all age groups, the most frequent causative drugs were non-opioid analgesics, antipyretics, and antirheumatics. The most common nonpharmaceutical agents were corrosives in preschool children and pesticides in adolescents. Most patients had no/minor effects (29 174 [75.8%]); hospitalization rates were highest among adolescents. There were 119 deaths (case fatality rate of 0.3), primarily from pesticide ingestion. CONCLUSION:Poisoning in preschool children is mainly unintentional and commonly due to nonpharmaceutical agents whereas poisoning in adolescents is mainly intentional (self-harm). Pesticides, mainly organophosphorous compounds and carbamates, were the most frequent agents leading to morbidity and mortality.
Authors: Giovanni N Berta; Federica Di Scipio; Francesca M Bosetti; Barbara Mognetti; Federica Romano; Maria E Carere; Anna C Del Giudice; Emanuele Castagno; Claudia Bondone; Antonio F Urbino Journal: Ital J Pediatr Date: 2020-06-11 Impact factor: 2.638
Authors: Nahar Dakeel Alruwaili; Bachar Halimeh; Mohammed Al-Omar; Badria Alhatali; Ismail Ibrahim Sabie; Mohammed Alsaqoub Journal: Ann Saudi Med Date: 2019-08-05 Impact factor: 1.526