Accidental ingestions in childhood

One-hundred and twelve cases of accidental poisoning were admitted over a 2-year study period (December 1990 to December 1992). Data was collected upon admission and patients were subsequently followed-up. Fifty-four percent of admission were boys. Majority of them were toddlers between the ages of 1 and 3 years. Thirty percent of accidental ingestions occurred during the school/public holidays. These occurred when the caretakers were preoccupied. Forty-nine percent of patients ingested oral medication; 16% ingested household liquids and the rest ingested other household products like cockroach tablets and thermometer mercury. The most commonly ingested medications were paracetamol, salicylate and bronchodilators, whilst chlorox, kerosene and detergents were the common household liquids ingested. The ability of the caregivers to quantitate the ingested product was poor. The mean hospital stay of the patients was 2.5 days. The majority of them were admitted for observation which did not require antidotes. Four cases were observed in the intensive care unit. There were no fatalities during the study period. Forty-four percent of the patients had samples taken for toxicology analysis, of which, less than half had positive results. All the patients were advised on the safety measures to look out for after admission. Less than 10% of cases had prior knowledge of such measures before the accidents occurred.