Poisonings among children – current problem in paediatric practice

Paulina Krawiec
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Monika Miedzwiecka
Elżbieta Pac-Kożuchowska
Students’ Scientific Group, Paediatric Clinic, Medical University of Lublin
Students’ Scientific Group, Paediatric Clinic, Medical University of Lublin
Paediatric Clinic, Medical University of Lublin

Abstract

Introduction: Poisonings among children are a serious threat to the health and life of young patients, and also they constitute a fundamental social problem.

Aim: The aim of the study was to analyse the number and type of poisonings among the patients hospitalised in the Paediatric Clinic, Medical University of Lublin in 2009.

Material and method: The research was based on the medical documentation of the patients hospitalised for accidental or intentional poisonings in the Paediatric Clinic. The study group comprised 164 children aged 1–17, including 83 girls (50.61%).The statistical analysis was carried out by Statistica 8 software.

Results: In the period from the 1st January to the 31st December 2009, 164 children (13.06% of all patients) were admitted to the Paediatric Clinic for poisoning. 73 children aged six years or younger were hospitalised (44.51%). In this age group 100% of poisonings was accidental. There were 91 (55.49%) children older than six hospitalised for poisonings. In this age group intentional poisonings were dominant – 81.32%; whereas accidental poisonings constituted barely 18.68%. The overall results show that intentional poisonings were more common among girls (55.22%) and patients living in urban areas (54,10%).

Conclusions: Poisonings are significant problems in paediatric health care. The frequency and the type of poisonings is correlated with the sex, age and the place of residence of patients

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