Poisoning Cases Among Children Under ۱۸ Years in Arak: Causes, Contributing Factors, and Statistics

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 ۲۰۲۲ to ۲۰۲۴.Methods: This cross-sectional study involved ۴۸۳ children aged ۱–۱۸ years diagnosed with poisoning in Amir Kabir Hospital in Arak between March ۲۰۲۲ and March ۲۰۲۴. 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 ۲۶. Results: The mean age was ۷.۷۸ ± ۵.۷۵ years. Girls were significantly older than boys (۸.۷۹ ± ۵.۸۲ vs. ۶.۶۲ ± ۵.۴۵ years; P = ۰.۰۰۰۱). Poisoning peaked in winter (۳۰.۶%). Mean hospital stay was ۱.۷۲ ± ۱.۰۶ days. Pharmaceutical poisoning was the most common cause (۴۳.۱%). Neurological symptoms were the most frequent presentation (۴۹.۹%). Accidental poisoning accounted for ۷۶.۴% of cases, with significant gender differences (accidental: ۵۱.۸% in boys; intentional: ۷۱.۱% in girls; P < ۰.۰۱).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.

کلیدواژه ها:

Child ، Poisoning ، Pediatrics ، Epidemiology ، toxicology