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CHILDHOOD POISONING AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH CENTRAL HOSPITAL, BLANTYRE, MALAWI
Abstract
Objectives: To record the number of children with poisoning admitted to the Queen Elizabeth
Central Hospital over one year; to note the causes, clinical and laboratory findings and
outcome of each poisoning event and; to highlight any preventable pattern in such events.
Design: A one year prospective study was undertaken of all children admitted to the Queen
Elizabeth Central Hospital with a history or clinical evidence of acute poisoning. Sociodemographic,
clinical and laboratory data were recorded and outcome noted for each child
on specially prepared forms. Data were entered and then analysed in Epi-Info 6.
Setting: Department of Paediatrics, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.
Interventions: Children were treated for poisoning according to national guidelines; supportive
care and active antidote were given as necessary.
Main outcome measures: Length of stay in hospital and mortality were primary outcome
measures.
Results: One hundred and forty four cases were admitted, 118 (82%) were accidental, in 19
cases the reason was unknown and six (4.2%) were non accidental. Carbonate poisoning
caused 32% (n=46) of admissions and paraffin 16.7% (n=24). The age range of poisoned
children was three weeks to 14 years with a mean of four years and eight months. Eleven
deaths occurred, six of which were due to traditional medicine intoxication.
Conclusion: Most poisoning were preventable and the public needs to be made aware of the
dangers of household agents, advised how to store them in the home and what to do if a child
ingests a poisonous substance. Traditional medicines are particularly dangerous to give to
infants less than one year old and carry a high mortality.
Central Hospital over one year; to note the causes, clinical and laboratory findings and
outcome of each poisoning event and; to highlight any preventable pattern in such events.
Design: A one year prospective study was undertaken of all children admitted to the Queen
Elizabeth Central Hospital with a history or clinical evidence of acute poisoning. Sociodemographic,
clinical and laboratory data were recorded and outcome noted for each child
on specially prepared forms. Data were entered and then analysed in Epi-Info 6.
Setting: Department of Paediatrics, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.
Interventions: Children were treated for poisoning according to national guidelines; supportive
care and active antidote were given as necessary.
Main outcome measures: Length of stay in hospital and mortality were primary outcome
measures.
Results: One hundred and forty four cases were admitted, 118 (82%) were accidental, in 19
cases the reason was unknown and six (4.2%) were non accidental. Carbonate poisoning
caused 32% (n=46) of admissions and paraffin 16.7% (n=24). The age range of poisoned
children was three weeks to 14 years with a mean of four years and eight months. Eleven
deaths occurred, six of which were due to traditional medicine intoxication.
Conclusion: Most poisoning were preventable and the public needs to be made aware of the
dangers of household agents, advised how to store them in the home and what to do if a child
ingests a poisonous substance. Traditional medicines are particularly dangerous to give to
infants less than one year old and carry a high mortality.
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