title: A retrospective study on non-drug related poisoning in the community among children from south India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This retrospective study was performed to determine the incidence, demographic distribution, types and outcomes across various non-drug related poisonings among children attending a tertiary care center in south India.
  
  
  METHODS
  All children from 0-16 years who presented to the Paediatric Emergency Department, Christian Medical College, Vellore with non-drug related poisoning from October 2004 to September 2013 were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of the total 997 cases of poisoning, 629 (63.1%) cases were contributed by chemicals and plants: mainly hydrocarbons (kerosene) 309 (49.1%); organophosphates 72 (11.5%); corrosive acids and alkalis 57 (9.1%); insecticides 51 (8.1%); and plant poisons 20 (3.2%). Males (62.79%) and children < 5 years (77.42%) were mostly affected. Although many children developed complications requiring intensive care unit admissions, the total mortality was only 9 (1.4%). The incidence of poisoning showed a decreasing trend over the last 4 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study for the first time gives an elaborative insight on non-drug related pediatric poisoning from a tertiary care center in south India for almost a decade.
authors.affiliation: a Paediatric Emergency, Department of Paediatrics , Christian Medical College , Vellore , Tamil Nadu , India.
authors.forename: Debasis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Das Adhikari
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology , Christian Medical College , Vellore , Tamil Nadu , India.
authors.forename: Saibal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology , Christian Medical College , Vellore , Tamil Nadu , India.
authors.forename: Blessed
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Winston A
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology , Christian Medical College , Vellore , Tamil Nadu , India.
authors.forename: Kaysina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vazhudhi
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology , Christian Medical College , Vellore , Tamil Nadu , India.
authors.forename: Aniket
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology , Christian Medical College , Vellore , Tamil Nadu , India.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shanthi Fx
authors.affiliation: c Child Health 2, Department of Paediatrics , Christian Medical College , Vellore , Tamil Nadu , India.
authors.forename: Indira
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Agarwal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000931:Antidotes; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007287:Inorganic Chemicals / Q000506:poisoning*; D008297:Male; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000506:poisoning*; D010944:Plants / Q000506:poisoning*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers
chemical_list: D000931:Antidotes; D007287:Inorganic Chemicals; D009930:Organic Chemicals
keywords: Poisoning; chemicals; children; plant poison; south India