Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
2 Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
3 Department of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
Abstract
Background: Childhood poisoning poses serious health risks and complications. Numerous studies have highlighted differing rates of pediatric poisoning. This study investigates the prevalence, causes, and contributing factors of poisoning among children during the period from 2022 to 2024.
Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 483 children aged 1–18 years diagnosed with poisoning in Amir Kabir Hospital in Arak between March 2022 and March 2024. Data were retrospectively gathered from patient medical records during the specified period. Information on demographic details, seasonality, type of exposure (intentional or accidental), and general categories of poisoning agents was collected and analyzed using SPSS version 26.
Results: The mean age was 7.78 ± 5.75 years. Girls were significantly older than boys (8.79 ± 5.82 vs. 6.62 ± 5.45 years; P = 0.0001). Poisoning peaked in winter (30.6%). Mean hospital stay was 1.72 ± 1.06 days. Pharmaceutical poisoning was the most common cause (43.1%). Neurological symptoms were the most frequent presentation (49.9%). Accidental poisoning accounted for 76.4% of cases, with significant gender differences (accidental: 51.8% in boys; intentional: 71.1% in girls; P < 0.01).
Conclusion: Pharmaceutical agents represented the leading cause of pediatric poisoning in this study. These findings underscore the importance of enhancing medication safety measures, enforcing stricter controls on drug accessibility, and implementing targeted prevention strategies, particularly for younger children and adolescents.
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