Retrospective evaluation of poisoning cases who presented to the Pediatric Emergency Unit

High rate of poisonings and high mortality rate related to poisoning in developing countries including Turkey have made childhood poisoning an important problem which should be solved (1-6). Although poisonings can be observed in all age groups, they are more frequent and have a more fatal course in the childhood. In a study performed in 1977 based on 38 health institutions from all regions of Turkey, 5077 pediatric poisoning cases were evaluated and the rate of poisoning cases among total emergency cases was found to be 0.9% (2). Pediatric accidents with a gradually increasing number and significance are becoming prominent among mortality factors in the childhood, since technology is advancing rapidly, conscious nutrition and preventive medicine efforts are becoming widespread and infectious diseases are being treated. In our country, childhood poisoning is the fourth leading type of accident after traffic accidents, falls and burns (3). In studies performed in our country, the mortality rate related to poisonings was observed to range between 0% and 5.5% (4,5). The factors leading to poisoning may vary between countries, regions and years in the same region. Similarly, poisoning agents vary according to age, gender, education level of the family, traditions of the region and season. Therefore, each country should determine its own poisoning profile and take the necessary precautions according to the risks and threats confronted (6).