Patterns and Outcomes of Acute Poisoning Among Children Presenting to Emergency Department in AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia

Introduction Acute poisoning in children is still a global health concern that necessitates visiting the emergency department that might associated with morbidity and mortality. It has an impact on social, economic, and health issues, particularly for children under five who account for the majority of poisonings worldwide. Poisoning can result in mild cases, serious complications, or even death; oral ingestion is the most common way that poisoning occurs in children. This study will emphasize the necessity of putting such preventative measures into practice in order to lessen acute pediatric intoxication in the future. Furthermore, determining the important predictors of unintentional intoxication and the requirement for admission could help with the development of preventative strategies. Aim The present study is aimed to determine the pattern of poisoning and outcomes among the pediatric age group <14 years. Methodology A descriptive study based on retrospective records was carried out at the Maternity and Children Hospital in AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia, over a period of two years (August 2022 to August 2024), all cases of acute poisoning in children younger than 14 years old were included. Demographic details, the location, duration, type, and route of exposure to toxic agents, clinical presentation, course of treatment, and result are all included in the data analysis. Results In total, 158 cases were reported during the study period. The majority of acutely intoxicated children (136 (86%)) were aged one to <6 years. The highest incidence was observed between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. (56 (35.4%)). Pharmaceutical ingestion (106 (67.1%)) caused more poisoning than chemical ingestion (52 (32.9%)). The most common drugs ingested were analgesics (28 (26.4%)) and cleaning agents were more among chemical poisons (25 (48.1%)). The majority of children (70.9%) were asymptomatic at the time of presentation. The most common symptoms reported by symptomatic children were gastrointestinal clinical manifestations. More than half of acute intoxication patients were discharged home, with 26 (16.5%) admitted to the general ward versus 22 (13.9%) admitted to the intensive care unit. Conclusion Physicians and public health authorities must conduct routine surveillance to update prevention and management strategies for pediatric poisoning. To reduce the frequency of pediatric intoxication, caregivers' knowledge of the potentially dangerous toxic agents and the risk factors for the condition should be improved. Additionally, efficient preventative measures should be put into place.