Patterns of Poisoning in Urban and Rural Children: A Single-Center Study.

BACKGROUND

Poisoning among children is a current issue in pediatrics. The pattern and risk factors of poisoning are heterogeneous and vary within the same country.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to analyze the determinants in the incidence and nature of poisoning between urban and rural children, in order to identify children at higher risk.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

The study entailed a retrospective analysis of the medical records of 848 children admitted to the Department of Pediatrics at the Medical University of Lublin, Poland, due to exposure to poison from July 2008 to December 2012. The patients were divided into urban and rural.

RESULTS

The majority of the subjects came from urban areas (64.50%). In both groups the most numerous were children aged ≤ 5 years and 14-15 years. Among urban boys, children younger than 5 years old predominated, while among urban girls, teenagers aged 14-15 years comprised the largest group (p = 0.00). In the rural population children younger than 5 years were the most prevalent regardless of gender. The incidence of intentional intoxication increased with age, while the incidence of accidental poisoning decreased with age (p = 0.00). Among urban children there was a significant association between gender and the nature of poisoning (p = 0.00). The most common cause of poisoning was the use of non-pharmaceuticals, with alcohol predominating.

CONCLUSIONS

The study indicates that poisoning is more likely in urban children. Among urban children there is a bimodal gender distribution with a preponderance of pre-school boys in accidental poisoning and of teenage girls in intentional ones. However, among rural children the most prevalent was accidental poisoning by improperly stored medicines and household chemicals. Urban children commonly use alcohol and narcotics.