Childhood Poisoning Cases Admitted to Zagazig University Hospitals during the Year 2018: A Retrospective Study

Background: Childhood poisoning is considered major socioeconomic and public health problem as there are thousands of children admitted to the emergency departments and millions of calls are made to poison control centers every year. Aim of the Work: Determine the prevalence and pattern of childhood poisoning cases admitted to Zagazig University hospitals. Subjects and Methods: This is a retrospective study on children < 18 years old presented to Zagazig University hospital emergency department. The study was done from the beginning of January 2018 to the end of December 2018 on total of 624 cases with acute poisoning. All required epidemiological and clinical data were collected and analyzed. Results: A total of 624 childhood poisoning cases, more males than females (55.3% versus 44.7% respectively), and more in age group of 3 - 6 years old (40.86%), more in rural than urban communities (65.06% against 34.94% respectively). Oral exposure was the most against other routes (84.94%). Most cases were unintentional (92.8%). The prevalence of childhood poisoning in descending order was; compound therapeutic medications (32.69%) followed by pesticides (26.92%) then corrosives (17.31%), while volatile hydrocarbons (benzene or kerosene) accounted for (15.38%) and carbon monoxide (3.85%) and others (3.85%). Overall, minor cases were the commonest (63%) while only 3.8% of cases were severe. About 88.94% of cases were discharged after completed management while death rate was 0.96%. Conclusion: Most childhood poisoning cases were males, accidentally, mainly by oral route and in rural areas, most commonly in age group of 3 - 6 years. Most cases were due to therapeutic medications then pesticide exposures. Most of cases were completely cured.