• Surabhi Aryal, Susmin Karki, and Machhindra Lamichhane.
• Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal.
• JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc. 2024 Feb 29; 62 (271): 160164160-164.

IntroductionAcute poisoning is one of the critical causes of hospital admission in children worldwide. Understanding the clinico-demographic profile of childhood poisoning will help in developing targeted prevention strategies. This study aimed to find the prevalence of acute poisoning cases among children admitted to a tertiary care hospital.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was done among 4972 children admitted in the pediatric ward, High Dependency Care Unit, and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary care hospital in Nepal. The data were collected from the hospital records from over three years between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2022 after receiving ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee. A convenience sampling method was used. Data related to the clinical and demographic data were collected from the patients with acute poisoning and analyzed. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated.ResultsOut of 4972 paediatric cases admitted to the hospital, acute poisoning was seen in 57 (1.14%) (0.81-1.39, 95% Confidence Interval) patients. Out of these acute poisoning cases, 31 (54.39%) were accidental. The mean age was 10.10±5.40 years with 35 (61.40%) patients from the adolescent age group.ConclusionsThis study conducted in a Nepalese tertiary care hospital identifies acute poisoning as a notable concern among pediatric admissions.

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