DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2017.v05i03.014

Pages: 209-214

Acute poisoning caused more than 45 000 deaths in children and youth less than 20 years of age. Fatal poisoning rate is high in low and middle income countries like India. Childhood poisoning can be prevented with proper first aid, early management with appropriate treatment. On this background this study aimed to determine the demographic profile, pharmacotherapy and risk factors associated with fatal outcome in paediatric poisoning cases at a tertiary care teaching hospital. This descriptive cross sectional study had been conducted in the emergency department of paediatrics at M.K.C.G. Medical College and Hospital, Brahmapur, Odisha from March, 2016 to August, 2016. 105 paediatric poisoning cases of both the sexes were enrolled in this study with prior consent from parents. The protocol was approved by IEC. Relevant data were collected from hospital record and asking question to parents in a predesigned case record form. The categorical data were presented as percentage and risk factor association were analysed by Chi-square test. The children under 5years (57%) and males (67%) were predominantly affected. Maximum mortality observed i.e 25% with 1 month to 1 year age group. Rural area cases (84%) and accidental poisoning (93%) contributed the major share. Poisoning with biological agents (52.3%) with 93% cured rate. Urban cases could get earlier treatment than rural cases with 98% cure rate (p<0.01). The trends for paediatric poisoning cases attended to this centre were similar to other hospital based studies of India. Time lapsed to reaching the hospital was an important risk factor associated to mortality was observed. Establishment of poison information centre and raising public awareness would help in improving treatment outcome.