Frequency of Patterns and Risk Factors of Acute Accidental Poisoning Among Children of Age 5-10 Years

Abstract

Background & Objective: Poisoning in children is a leading cause of 
fatalities across the globe; around 2% 
of injury related deaths are incriminated due to accidental poisoning in the developing countries.1The 
objective of this study was to determine the frequency of patterns and contributing factors of acute accidental 
poisoning among children of age 5-10 years. 
Methods: A cross-sectional type of study was done at the Jinnah Hospital, Lahore from November 20,2018 
to May 20, 2019. All accidental poisoning patients were enrolled. General and specific management steps 
were carried out in all the cases. After discharge they were kept on follow up in Pediatrics Outdoor Patient 
Department. Information regarding their demographic data was noted in the proforma. The patterns and 
contributing factors of acute accidental poisoning among children were identified. SPSS v23.0 was used to 
assess the obtained data. 
Results: Age range in this study was from 5 to 10 years. Mean age of child was 7.3+1.6 years. Among 145 
children, 89(61.4%) were males and 56(38.6%) were females. The result of the study were unsafe storage of 
household poison 94(64.8%), inadequate supervision 91(62.8%), working mother 49(33.8%), low SES 
19(13.1%) and illiterate mother 13 (9.0%). 
Conclusion: Unsafe storage of household poison 94(64.8%) was the most common factor followed by 
inadequate supervision 91(62.8%), working mother 49(33.8%), low SES 19(13.1%) and illiterate mother 13 
(9.0%).There is a need to arrange health promotion and protection programs at various levels through 
projects, brochures and electronic media campaigns so that the awareness of parents can be raised regarding 
accidental poisoningand they can observe preventive measures in the future toreduceits incidence . 
Keywords: Acute Accidental Poisoning, Children, Patterns, Risk Factors.