Introduction: In Israel there are ~ 180,000 Pediatric emergency department (PED) visits, 25,000 admissions and 150 deaths annually due to unintentional injuries with poisoning is graded 4th cause for deaths. According to the National Toxicology Center 50% of the 30,000/year consults are pediatric cases. The purpose of our study is to characterize PED unintentional poisoning cases.
Patients & Methods: In this prospective study, and as a part of the National Pediatric Injury & Safety Surveillance program, we, in collaboration with "BETEREM" organization, have created a computerized system (based on WHO recommendations) for collecting data of all our PED visits due to unintentional injuries. Study population includes all the relevant patients (Age 0 – 18 years) during 2008 - 2013.
Results: Altogether 47,157 patients of unintentional injuries were enrolled. Among them 244 poisoning agents were identified in 199 patients. Medications were involved in 93% of cases. Most patients were < 5 years (150/199, 75%), but surprisingly, girls were more involved - 116/199 (58%). The most common medications include: CNS – 23%, antipyretic, NSAID – 20%, respiratory -18.5%, cardiovascular – 18.5%, endocrine – 7%. 76/199 (38%) were discharged home and 108/199 (54%) were admitted to Pediatric Department and 15/199 (7.5%) to the ICU. No mortality was observed.
Conclusions: PED visits and subsequent hospitalizations of young children after unintentional ingestions of medications is a major problem despite widespread use of child-resistant packaging and caregiver education efforts. Awareness could help to reduce health care utilization and medical expense, identify prevention priorities and create intervention strategies.
