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May 10, 2012Article Details
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Main Article Content
The changing trends of childhood poisoning at a tertiary children’s hospital in South Africa
Abstract
world, including South Africa, is scarce, despite its contribution to
morbidity and mortality.
Objective. We describe the profile of children with exposures
and poisonings presenting to Red Cross War Memorial Children’s
Hospital (RCWMCH) in Cape Town, South Africa, from 2003 to
2008 and compare the trends of causative agents over the past two
decades.
Methods. Cases were identified by review of the RCWMCH case
records.
Results. Of the total incidents (N=2 872), paraffin (kerosene)
was the commonest agent (n=692, 24%) with 124 poisonings
including two deaths. Drugs were the most common toxin group
(n=988, 34%), including 139 single-drug poisonings with 5
deaths; 4 associated with traditional medicine use. Household
cleaning product incidents (n=302, 10%) resulted in 29 singleproduct
poisonings with no deaths. Pesticide incidents (n=311,
10%) included 6 deaths; 203 (65%) incidents were due to
organophosphates or carbamates. The suburban distribution of
the main toxin groups varied. Comparing 1987 and 2008, the
number of incidents decreased from 1 116 to 447; drug and paraffin
incidents decreased respectively (from 673 to 150 and from 332 to
87), household cleaning products and cosmetics increased (21 to
69) and pesticide incidents increased (7 to 69).
Conclusion. Despite a decrease in the overall number of incidents
over two decades at RCWMCH, paraffin and drugs remain
the principal agents responsible for paediatric exposures and
poisonings, with increasing incidents due to household cleaning
products and pesticides. Identification of these toxin groups coming
from specific suburbs allows for targeted prevention initiatives.
