Acute Poisoning in Children in Aden-Yemen

Background: Acute poisoning is one of the main childhood accidents. It is the third most common emergencies of pediatrics leading to increased childhood morbidity and mortality. Methods: Retrospective study for medical records of patients admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Department in public and private hospital during January 2013 to January 2017 in Aden city. The study population consisted of children up to 15 years of age who were referred to the Pediatric Emergency Department with acute poisoning. Data were extracted from medical charts, including demographic data (age, sex, and residency), route of poisoning, causative agent for acute poisoning, and outcome of acute poisoning. Result: The total number of poisoned children that could be enrolled during this period was 146; 58 (39.8%) were males less than 5 years old. According to residency 58.9% living in Urban areas, while 41.1% in rural areas. Most of cases poisoning was through the oral route 110 (75.3).Petroleum products in the form of kerosene were implicated 51(34.9%) cases. Conclusion: Acute poisonings are still a significant cause of morbidity among children in Aden- Yemen. Male child less than 5 years old particularly those from urban area continue as the highest risk group for acute positing attempt from ingestions. Kerosene agents are the most frequent agents causing poisoning