Evaluation of acute intoxication cases admitted in pediatric intensive care unit between the years of 2012-2018

Aim: Intoxications, which are one of the causes of preventable deaths, remain a significant problem. The aim of our study is to examine the serious features of the intoxication table which require hospitalization in the pediatric intensive care unit and the precautions that may be taken. Materials and methods: In this study, acute intoxication cases admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Abant İzzet Baysal University Faculty of Medicine in 2012-2018 were evaluated retrospectively. Results: 147(37.6%) of the cases were male and 244(62.4%) were female. 205(52.4%) were under 5 years old, 155(39.6%) were adolescent. In intoxication cases, male was common in children(51.3%) while female was common in adolescents(82.3%),(p<0.001). 66.4% of the intoxications were accidental and 33.5% of them were suicidal. Accidental intoxications was common in children while suicide intoxications was common in adolescents(p<0.001). Intoxications was frequent in girls with suicidal aims, in boys with accidents(p<0.001). Intoxications are mostly caused by drugs(70.8%), carbonmonoxide(11.7%) and mouse poison(5.8%). In our study, the intoxication rate was found 75% with single drug and 25% with multiple drugs. Intoxications with single drug in males and with multiple drugs in females are common(p<0.001). Intoxications with single drug in children and with multiple drugs in adolescents were common(p<0.001). The admissions to the emergency room were frequent at the first hour after the intoxication in the children and 6 hours after the intoxication in adolescents(p<0.001). Application to the emergency room was made in the first 1 hour after the accidental intoxication and in 1-6 hours after suicidal intoxications cases(p=0.009). For the realization of intoxication, while males is seen when they are taking drugs, girls informs their intoxication(p<0.001). The age of the applicants in the first 1 hour after intoxication was significantly lower than those of the applicants after 1-6 hours of intoxication(p=0.001) or 6 hours after the intoxication(p=0.015). 382 of our cases were discharged, 7 of them were referred, and 2 of them died. Discussion: In the province where rural life is common, carbon monoxide and mouse poison intoxication is frequently seen after drugs. Particular attention should be paid to boys and girl adolescents. For the prevention of accidental intoxications and to start treatment early, we think that programs which can create awareness in the national sense should be used. For the prevention of suicidal intoxications, we think that for the drugs that are the most common, the controls should be made more stringent, even follow-up per tablet. Additionally, the patients who require psychiatric support should be determined early with the help of these controls. Keywords: Poisonings, intensive care, children.