Letters to the Editor

Indian Pediatrics 2001; 38: 208

Poisoning in Children

Acute poisoning is a common Pediatric emergency and an important cause of mortality. Poisoning tends to be accidental in children between 1½ to 3 years of age(1). We conducted a retrospective analysis from January 1996 to May 1999 on children admitted with poisoning to the Pediatric ward of Government R.M. Hospital, Thanjavur.

The total Pediatric admissions during this period were 15141 and poisoning was diagnosed in 1056 (6.9%). Two hundred and three (19.2%) had chemical poisoning and 853 (80.8%) had biological poisoning. One hundred and twenty five children were less than 2 years of age, 570 were between 2 to 5 years of age and 361 were above 5 years of age. The male to female ratio was 1.5:1 in chemical and 1.2:1 in biological poisoning. The recommended treatment was given to all children.

The nature of poisoning and the outcome is depicted in Table I. The mortality was 5.4% in chemical and 3.5% in biological poisoning.

Poisoning constitutes 6.9% of annual admissions. Males in the age group of 2-5 years were more frequently admitted with poisoning. This is in agreement with earlier literature. Kerosene poisoning topped the list and 95% recovered in series. Death rate was 25% in insecticide poisoning while earlier reports quote 12.5%(2). Biological poisoning was documented in 5.5%. Mortality was more in snake bite. Two died of renal failure. Ninety seven per cent of scorpion envenoma-tions could be saved though myocarditis, encephalitis, pulmonary edema and renal failure were reported in 29 (4.1%). Death was more in children who reported late.

N. Ganga,
G. Rajarajeswari,
Department of Pediatrics,
Thanjavur Medical College,
Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu,
India.

1. Christo KK, Mareus D, Sagerman S, Bannet S. Adolescent suicide and suicidal attempts: A Population study. Pediatric Emerg Care 1988; 4: 32-40.

2. Khadgawat R, Garg P, Bansal P, Arya A, Choudhary B. Accidental poisoning. Indian Pediatr 1994; 31: 1555-1557.