Childhood poisoning: a 10-year experience in a tertiary hospital in Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

Childhood Poisoning is a common cause of emergency room presentation, more so in underdeveloped countries where it contributes to a high incidence of hospitalization with variability in morbidity and mortality. This study retrospectively assessed the sociodemographic profiles, poisoning agents, clinical features and management of cases of childhood poisoning admitted at Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu. It was a 10-year retrospective study of all the cases of childhood poisoning admitted within the period of study at the Children’s Emergency Room of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), Enugu. The prevalence of childhood poisoning in the study was 0.3%. Of all the subjects, 78.4% were ≤5 years and more than half were males and from lower socioeconomic classes. Accidental poisoning accounted for 70.3%; the predominant agents were kerosene and organophosphates. Palm oil was used by 67.6% of the participants as an intervention before presentation. Pneumonitis was the most common complication. Patients with peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) < 95% were 14 times more likely to have complications than those with SpO2 ≥ 95%. The duration of hospital stay was ≤3 in 59% of the cases and no mortality was recorded in this study.Childhood poisoning remains prevalent in our environment with kerosene being the commonest agent. Palm oil administration as a predominant pre-hospital intervention worsens outcomes. Duration of hospitalization depends on SpO2 at presentation, need for antibiotic therapy, and intention.