Epidemiological Pattern of Acute Pediatric Poisoning in Mashhad, Iran During 2011 - 2013

Background Poisoning is dangerous and common in children. We evaluated the epidemiological pattern of acute pediatric poisoning and its recent changes in Mashhad. Objectives The current study aimed to evaluate the epidemiological pattern and recent changes of APP in Mashhad city during 2011- 2013. Patients and Methods: This cross sectional/descriptive study was performed based on the data (including age, sex, home address, and diagnosis) recorded in the hospital information system (HIS) regarding children admitted to pediatric toxicology unit of Imam Reza Hospital, the only referral hospital in Mashhad, during 2011 - 2013. Results Over the three years, 1701 children (53% male) aged 60.57 ± 1.95 months were hospitalized. The number of acutely poisoned children (APC) and the proportion of APC to the total number of pediatric admissions were 519 (14.1%) in 2011, 472 (13.5%) in 2012, and 710 (18.1%) in 2013 (P < 0.0001). However, the pediatric to adult poisoning ratio (9.7%, 8.9%, and 8.5%) did not change significantly (P = 0.0561) over the years. The APC cases became older from 55.6 ± 2.3 months in 2011 to 70.0 ± 2.7 months in 2013 (P < 0.0001). The leading cause of APC was opium (179) in 2011 that decreased to 117 in 2013 (P < 0.0001), whereas the methadone induced APC raised from 144 to 252 (P = 0.0303). Conclusions The number of APC increased in this area over the period of the study. The pattern of pediatric poisoning changed from a traditional opium poisoning to methadone overdose from 2011 to 2013, which may be due to the changing pattern of addiction and increased availability of methadone in the houses of addicted parents.