Prevalence of Acute Intoxication in Children Visiting Shahid Bahonar Hospital in Karaj, Iran, 2014-2015

Children’s intoxication is a major problem in healthcare systems and given its high prevalence, it has received significant attention. Attention to children and adolescents’ healthcare is a fundamental factor in improving health in the community. There has been no comprehensive study of prevalence and causes of intoxication in children in Alborz Province so far. Goal of this study is to identify the prevalence and causes of intoxication in children visiting Bahonar Hospital in one-year period 2014-2015.

In this cross sectional investigation, 309 children under age of 14 who were seen in Bahonar hospital with diagnosis of intoxication were studies. Data regarding their gender, age, cause of intoxication, and symptoms at presentation, length of stay, PICU admission, and parents’ level of education were gathered. In order to identify correlation between variables and “cause of intoxication” or “outcome”, we sued Chi Square or Fisher Exact test with minimum significance at P<0.05.

Of 309 children participating in this study, 54.4% were male and 45.6% were female. In 68% of case, the intoxication had happened accidentally. The most common intoxicating agents were medications with 48.5% and drugs of abuse with 23.9% prevalence. Other causes were detergents 8.7%, carbon mono-oxide 7.8%, alcohol 2.6%, burning agents 2.3%, hydrocarbons 1.3%, and insecticides 1% of intoxication in children of this province. 55% of patients needed admission to ICU. 88.1% of parents had education level below high school graduate.

Based on this data, prevalence of intoxication from medications and drug of abuse is relatively high in this province and is more common in families with low education level. Thus, providing adequate education to public and especially parents about intoxication and methods of prevention, and following safety measures in storing medication seem to be of priority in order to improve this population’s general health.