Unintentional Poisoning in Children: Analysis for Significant Risk Factors

Abstract

Background: Unintentional poisoning is one of the most common preventable causes of death in children younger than 6 years all around the world. Mortality rate is higher in developing countries (5% of children who received unintentional poisoning) than in developed countries. Objective : To study risk factors of unintentional poisoning in children age between 6-60 months in Siriraj Hospital. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. Children of the case group (n = 58) were diagnosed of unintentional (accidental) poisoning by drug or other substances and treated at Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, during January, 2007 to December, 2009. In the control group (n= 174) we evaluated children matched for sex and age who came to our outpatient unit, Siriraj Hospital, for other conditions. Results: Most of the cases (87.9%) of unintentional poisoning occurred in the house and 6.9% of the cases had poisoning around the house. All children in the case group received poisoning by accidentally ingestion. Number of family members, low paternal income and maternal educational level less than secondary school were significant social risks. Significant behavioral risks were grandparent as a primary caregiver and lack of close supervision more than 30 minutes. Positive underlying diseases of family members that required medicinal control, improper storage and place of medicines or other chemical substances were environmental risk factors. No significant developmental risk factor was found in our study. Conclusion: Social, behavioral and environmental risks contribute to unintentional poisoning. Anticipatory guidance in these issues can reduce unintentional poisoning significantly.

Keywords

• Unintentional poisoning
• children
• risk factor