Epidemiol Health.  2019;41:e2019016. 10.4178/epih.e2019016.

Risk factors contributing to the incidence and mortality of acute childhood poisoning in emergency department patients in Iran: a hospital-based case-control study

• Feiz Disfani H
• Kamandi M
• Mousavi SM
• Sadrzadeh
• Farzaneh R
• Doolabi N
• Rahmani K

• KMID: 2469419
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2019016

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Since poisoning is one of the most important preventable factors contributing to the hospitalization and death of children who present to emergency departments, this study was carried out to investigate the risk factors contributing to the incidence and mortality of acute childhood poisoning.
METHODS
This hospital-based case-control study included 243 cases and 489 controls, drawn from daily admissions to the emergency departments of the included hospitals according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.
RESULTS
Gastrointestinal poisoning was the most common poisoning type, found in 87.7% of subjects, and medications were the most common cause of poisoning (49.8%). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that a history of poisoning (odds ratio [OR], 10.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.58 to 19.51; p<0.001) and the availability of poisonous substances (OR, 8.88; 95% CI, 5.41 to 14.56; p<0.001) were among the most important predictors of childhood poisoning. Respiratory poisoning (OR, 6.72; 95% CI, 1.40 to 32.07; p<0.05) and the presence of addiction in the family (OR, 4.54; 95% CI, 1.10 to 18.68; p<0.05) were the most important predictors of mortality among children with poisoning.
CONCLUSIONS
Addiction and the presence of physical or psychological disorders in family members, a history of poisoning, and the availability of poisonous substances were significantly associated with the incidence of childhood poisoning and resultant mortality.

Keyword

Poisoning; Child; Mortality; Emergency department; Iran

MeSH Terms

Case-Control Studies*
Child
Emergencies*
Emergency Service, Hospital*
Hospitalization
Humans
Incidence*
Iran*
Logistic Models
Mortality*
Poisoning*
Risk Factors*