Toxicology: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Introduction: Poisoning is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and represents a major public health threat in children according to World Health Organization. Objective: To determine the profile of acute poisoning cases in the pediatric population in a tertiary hospital from 2012 to 2016. Design: The study is a retrospective cross-sectional study on acute poisoning cases among the pediatric population. Review of hospital records was done upon approval of Ethics Review Board. Patients/Participants: Random sampling was done among acute poisoning cases and 128 cases were included. Results: The prevalence rate of acute poisoning was 0.56%. Majority were adolescents. Females were more affected. A greater number of cases had intentional poisoning with adolescents and females being more affected. Unintentional poisoning/ accidental poisoning was observed more among children aged less than years old. The toxicants more commonly ingested were therapeutics drugs mostly over the counter drugs, organophosphates, caustic chemicals and herbicides. There were three mortalities, one from nitrite poisoning and two from paraquat poisoning. Most of the cases were classified as C3 and D and they represent the population with lower economic status. Most patients with intentional poisoning were diagnosed to have adjustment disorder with depress mood. The association of age, sex and medical social classification with the nature of incident is not statistically significant, but percentage shows that intentional poisoning is more common among adolescents and unintentional poisoning occurred more among younger age group. Conclusion: Acute poisoning is indeed one of the health problems at present because of the increasing availability of toxic agents as product of modern innovations in pharmacotherapy and chemical use in the environment. It is recommended to concerned agencies to strengthen existing rules and regulations in usage, distribution and marketing of commonly encountered toxicants that caused mortality, including those that are banned.

Biography

Rochelle R Pamaran has received the degree of Doctor of Medicine at Cagayan State University, Cagayan, Philippines and passed the Physician Licensure Examination in 2007. She has worked as a Clinical Coordinator under the Asian Foundation for Tropical Medicine in collaboration with the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine for the Influenza Surveillance.
Email:rochellepamaran@yahoo.com