Pattern of Pediatric poisoning in Kashmir (Incidence, Clinical profile and outcome): A hospital based study

Backround:Poisoning is a common preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Most of the poisoning in children less than 5 years is accidental. Objective of study was to study the incidence, clinical profile and outcome of childhood poisoning. Methods: This was a retrospective study done in patients, who were admitted in pediatric wards, pediatric intensive care unit of GB Pant Children Hospital with history of Ingestion of poison from May 2011 to May 2015. Results: There were total 1272 children enrolled in study. Male: Female Ratio was 1.52:1. Mean Age of presentation was 3.18 years. Among 1272 patients, 57.23 patients received pre-referral treatment in the form of gastric lavage, atropine etc. OrganoPhosphorous was the commonest poisoning seen in 332 patients (26%) followed by kerosene (hydrocarbon) poisoning 240 patients (18.83%), Drugs 232 patients (18.23%). During treatment 30.2% received Antidotes, 55.7% received antibiotics, Gastric lavage and anticonvulsants in 47.7% and 2.5% respectively. Overall survival was 95.2%. The time interval between Intoxication and presentation to hospital, mean Glasgow comma scale (GCS) and presence of Coma (GCS<8) were significantly different between survivors and expired cases. Conclusion: Organophosphorus is the commonest agent involved in childhood poisoning. Overall outcome is good 95.2% Survival in our hospital. The time gap between the poisoning, presentation to hospital and presence of coma predict mortality.There is a definitive statistical significance of mortality with development of Respiratory failure, seizures and development of coma as the mortality was higher in patients who developed the above clinical manifestations than those who did not developed the above features.