Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology

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


Affiliations
1 Department of Pediatrics, Health Services, Jammu & Kashmir, India
2 Department of Pediatrics, Chintpurni Medical College, Pathankot, India
3 Department of Microbiology, ASCOMS, Sidhra Jammu, India
4 Department of Pediatrics, Governement Medical College, Jammu, India
5 Department of Pharmacology, Governement Medical College, Jammu, India
6 Department of Anaesthesia, Government Medical college, Jammu, India
     

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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.


Keywords

Poisoning, Organophosphates, Kerosene oil
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  • Incidence and Pattern of Acute Poisoning among Children Aged 1 Month to 18 Years : An Experience from Jammu

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Authors

N. Kumar
Department of Pediatrics, Health Services, Jammu & Kashmir, India
A. K. Gupta
Department of Pediatrics, Chintpurni Medical College, Pathankot, India
D. K. Najotra
Department of Microbiology, ASCOMS, Sidhra Jammu, India
S. K. Digra
Department of Pediatrics, Governement Medical College, Jammu, India
S. Gupta
Department of Pharmacology, Governement Medical College, Jammu, India
P. K. Gupta
Department of Anaesthesia, Government Medical college, Jammu, India
D. Kumar
Department of Pediatrics, Health Services, Jammu & Kashmir, India

Abstract


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.


Keywords


Poisoning, Organophosphates, Kerosene oil

References