Mortality rate in acute poisoning in a pediatric toxicology department.
BACKGROUND
Acute poisoning, an important health issue in children can result in some cases in severe evolution and even death.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study is to analyze cases of death caused by acute poisoning which occurred in a ten-year-period in a Pediatric Toxicology Department in Bucharest.


METHODS
For the purpose of the study all medical records of the deceased patients with acute poisoning between 1995-2004 were analyzed with particular focus on the following criteria: etiology, age, social environment, type of intoxication (unintentional or intentional).


RESULTS
Between 1995-2004, 46 fatal cases were recorded out of a total 8802 cases of acute poisoning (0.52%). The main two causes of death by acute poisoning were: caustics (16 cases--34.78%) and mushrooms (12 cases--26.08%), followed by carbon monoxide (7 cases 15.11%), pharmaceuticals (5 cases--10.86%), ethanol (2 cases--4.34%), pesticides (2 cases--4.34%), nitrites (1 case--2.17%) and lead tetraethyl (1 case--2.17%).


CONCLUSIONS
Although morbidity in acute poisoning is still high, mortality is low, the registered average being 0.52%. The main agents causing death are caustics and mushrooms, and the most affected age group is that between 1 and 5 years of age.
Ulmeanu
Coriolan
C
Pediatric Toxicology Department, Children's Emergency Clinical Hospital, Grigore Alexandrescu, Bucharest, Romania.
Nitescu Girnita
Viorela G
VG
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002423:Cause of Death; D002424:Caustics / Q000506:poisoning; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D000431:Ethanol / Q000506:poisoning; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009145:Mushroom Poisoning / Q000401:mortality; D010575:Pesticides / Q000506:poisoning; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D002424:Caustics; D010575:Pesticides; D000431:Ethanol