Household Intoxications: Does Non-pharmaceutical Mean Nondangerous?

Abstract

Introduction: Intoxication with non-pharmaceutical substances within household environment is an important group of pediatric injuries seen in pediatric emergency departments. Our objective was to study clinical characteristics and outcomes of these exposures and compare them with pharmaceutical intoxications. Methods: The study was designed as a retrospective cohort study. All patients between 0 and 18 years old presented to 3rd level teaching hospital pediatric emergency unit between May 1st 2016 and April 30th 2017 with a complaint of acute toxic exposure were included. Results: Over one-year period, 0.52% of all patients presented to pediatric emergency department were toxic exposures. 44% of them were non-pharmaceutical exposures, most commonly cleaning products (49.5%), followed by carbon monoxide (19.2%) and hydrocarbon products (5.5%). Most common route of exposure was oral route (73.2%) and most of exposures were unintentional (97.9%). Respiratory symptoms were the most common manifestation (4.8%), followed by neurologic and cardiac manifestations (2.4%). 57% of patients were hospitalized, one patient admitted to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). None of the patients died. When compared with pharmaceutical exposures, patients in non-pharmaceutical group were younger, accidental exposures and non-oral routes of exposure were more in this group. Less patients in household group were admitted to PICU. Cardiac manifestations were seen more in household group. Conclusion: Household toxic exposures to non-pharmaceutical substances are common in childhood. Although mortality risk of pharmaceutical exposures is higher, household non-pharmaceutical exposures can also result in significant clinical manifestations therefore every effort should be taken to prevent accidental toxic exposures within household environment.

Keywords

• poisoning
• intoxication
• household
• children