Clinicoepidemiological Profile of Childhood Poisoning in the Pediatric Unit of a Tertiary Care Hospital in North India

Background: This study was conducted to find out the pattern of poisoning cases among the pediatric population in Srinagar and its Northwestern suburbs and compare it with what occurs elsewhere in India. Thereby we aimed to provide practical knowledge in dealing with these pediatric patients.

Methods: The hospital records of children between the ages of 0-19 years admitted to the pediatric emergency ward of SKIMS Medical College Hospital Srinagar with poisoning from July 2016 to June 2018 were evaluated.

Results: A total of 154 cases of poisoning were admitted in the study period, of which 89(57%) were males and 69(43%) were females. In the 0-12 year age group the poisonings were mostly in boys (68.26%) and were accidental whereas in the 13-19 year age group poisonings were mostly in girls (64%) and due to suicidal attempts. Organophoshorus poisoning was the most commonly ingested poison across all age groups (44.8%) followed by rodenticides (16.23%), kerosene (13.63%) and medications (11.68%). Interventions mostly commonly done were gastric lavage, induced vomiting. Mortaliy was seen in 2 cases over 2 years (1.29%).

Conclusion: Knowledge on epidemiological and clinical features of poisoning in children according to age groups, establishing safety standards for sale and storage of harmful chemicals, and parental education can help to decrease the burden of childhood poisoning.