Accidental Poisoning among Under-Five Children Seen at the Children’s Emergency Room of Federal Medical Center Umuahia, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Accidental poisoning among under-five children remains a recognized cause of morbidity and/or mortality with highest rates in low-  income countries. Its prevalence and types vary from place to place with the presenting features ranging from mild to near-fatal symptoms.

Aim: To document the frequency and pattern of accidental poisoning among under-five children seen at the Children’s Emergency Room of the  Federal Medical Center, Umuahia.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of the cases of under-fives with accidental poisoning over an eight-year period (January 2009 to December  2016). Information such as age, gender, type of poison, presenting features, type of home remedy and outcome were retrieved.

Results: Of the 9,492 under-fives seen during this period, 53 (0.6%) had accidental poisoning. The mean age was 21.2± 10.1 months and male-to-  female ratio was 1.8:1. The mean duration from the time of the incident to presentation was two hours. Most common route of poisoning was  ingestion (93.4%) and kerosene was the most common substance ingested. Presenting features ranged from mild symptoms such as fever and  vomiting, to fatal symptoms such as seizures and coma. Palm oil (83.3%) and coconut water (16.7%) administered orally were the most common  forms of home remedies. One of the patients was managed in ICU and there was no documented mortality.

Conclusion: Accidental poisoning remains a common paediatric emergency room presentation and kerosene ingestion is the commonest type of  presentation. Early presentation and prompt intervention may help to reduce morbidity and/or mortality.