PATTERN OF ACCIDENTAL PEDIATRIC POISONING IN TAIF REGION WESTERN KSA
Farihan Farouk Helmy*, Adnan Amin Alsulaimani, Mattar Al-Malky, Abeer Hagras, Shrooq Tail AlKhodaidi and Shahed Ali Alssofiani
ABSTRACT
Background: Poisoning is the third most common emergencies of pediatrics leading to high social and economic burden. Aim: To describe the pattern of acute childhood poisoning in Taif region western Kingdom of Saudia Arabia. Patients and Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted on 314 children up to 12 years with acute poisoning who were referred to the Pediatric Emergency Department of the Children hospital, in Taif city, KSA from the beginning of July 2015 to the end of June 2016. Complete demographic and clinical data were recorded and analyzed. Results: Three hundred and fourteen of poisoned children were enrolled in this study. 51.6% were males and 48.4% females. Overall, 77.4% of children were resident in rural areas around Taif region. Children from 8 to 12 years were more liable to poisoning (51.0%). Mode of toxicity in all cases (100%) was unintentional. 62 cases (19.7%) were admitted to hospital with altered mental status. Non drug was the most frequent causes of poisoning in 184 cases (58.6%), out of which 160 (86.9%) were toxins through animal envenomation. Poisoning was common during the summer in 59.2% of cases. About 99 % of cases recovered with- out complications, and no fatalities occurred during the period of the study. Observation with supportive measures together with decontamination and specific antidote therapy whenever needed was sufficient. Conclusion: Causes of poisoning among all children were unintentional. The most frequent poisoning was due to non-drugs agents, scorpion sting, and snake bite.
Keywords: Acute toxicity, children, Taif City, KSA.
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