EPIDEMIOLOGY OF ACUTE POISONING IN CHILDREN: SIX YEARS RETROSPECTIVE STUDY IN THE PEDIATRIC DEPARTMENT AT MISURATA MEDICAL CENTER-LIBYA FROM 2012-2017

This descriptive retrospective study was conducted to shed light on acute children poisoning attending pediatric department at Misurata Medical Center (MMC)-Libya. The study conducted for six years period to evaluate epidemiology, to determine etiologies, to find relation between child poisoning with age, sex and seasons and to present thechange over the years of study. This study conducted on 161 children admitted because of poisoning. Data collectedfrom patient's files in the documentation unit of the MMC. All the children aged from three days to thirteen years ofage, admitted due to acute intoxication over a period of six years studied carefully. A total of 161 (1.06 %) of totalpediatric admissions, with history of Acute poisoning (AP( included in the study. All cases of AP unintentional.Majority of patients (67.08%) were male. Male/Female ratio 2.05: 1.00. Age group 1-5 years had the highest117(72.67%) frequency of admission due to AP. Medications were the most common causes of AP 48(29.81%),followed by food poisoning 27(16.77%). pesticides 23(14.28%), caustic cleaning agents 15(9.31%), plants13(8.07%), and kerosene 9(5.59%). The most common medicines responsible for the AP were paracetamol11(22.91%) and metoclopramide 6(12.50%). The highest rate of children's admission due to poisoning was in theAutumn 52(32.98%). Children are curious, and explore everything with their hands, mouths and all senses. AP wasunintentional in all cases and most of children were discharged in a good clinical condition after a short period ofhospitalization and there was no mortality recorded through the period of study. AP may be drug over dose or asiatrogenic, contaminated food, pesticide, chemical agent, gas, plant and animal in nature. There were an inverse proportion between the age of children and the number of poisoning. AP can be prevented or minimized by adequatesupervision of the child, proper storage of medications and household products, increasing public awareness, counseling and correct guidance to the parents and early referral to the hospital.