title: Evaluation of forensic cases admitted to pediatric intensive care unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pediatric forensic cases to contribute to the literature and to preventive health care services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pediatric forensic cases hospitalized in our pediatric intensive care unit below the age of 17 years were reviewed retrospectively (January 2009-June 2014) . The patients were evaluated in two groups as physical traumas (Group A) and poisonings (Group B). The patients' age, gender, complaints at presentation, time of presentation and referral (season, time) and, mortality rates were determined. Cases of physical trauma (Group A) were classified as traffic accidents, falling down from height, falling of device, drowning, electric shock, burns and child abuse. Poisonings (Group B) were classified as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, other chemicals and unknown drug poisonings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred twenthy cases were included. The mean age was 5.1+3.1 years. One hundred fifteen (%52.5) of the cases were male and 105 (%47.5) were female. Group A consisted of 62 patients and Group B consisted of 158 patients. The patients presented most frequently in summer months. The most common reason for presentation was falling down from height (12.7%) in Group A and accidental drug poisoning (most frequently antidepressants) in Group B. The mortality rate was 5%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Forensic cases in the pediatric population (physical trauma and poisoning) are preventable health problems. Especially, preventive approach to improve the environment for falling down from height must be a priority. Increasing the awareness of families and the community on this issue, in summer months during which forensic cases are observed most frequently can contribute to a reduction in the number of cases.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Pediatrics, Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Burcu Bursal
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Duramaz
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hamdi Murat
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Yıldırım
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasan Serdar
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kıhtır
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yeşilbaş
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Esra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Şevketoğlu
keywords: Forensic case; poisoning; trauma