ROLE OF POISON SEVERITY SCORE AND MODIFIED EARLY WARNING SCORE IN EVALUATING THE OUTCOME OF CHILDREN WITH ACUTE UNINTENTIONAL POISONING IN CHILDREN BELOW SEVEN YEARS OLD

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 assistant professor at forensic medicine and clinical toxicology department, faculty of medicine, Menoufia University. Egypt

2 lecturer

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Background: Pediatric unintentional poisoning below seven years old is considered a significant public health issue. In toddlers and babies, poisoning always occurs accidentally due to their curiosity and putting objects in their mouths. Aim: This study aimed to focus on the topic of unintentional poisoning among children younger than seven years old. The admission date to the Menoufiya Poison Control Center (MPCC) ranged from the first of January 2022 to the end of December 2022. Evaluate the prevalence of different types of poisoning—analyses of sociodemographic data, circumstances, investigations, and management. Poisoning severity score (PSS) and modified early warning score (MEWS) are utilized for evaluating the seriousness and results of cases. Patients, materials, and methods: Clinical sheets created specifically for this purpose were gathered to collect data, including social and demographic data (age, sex, and residence), type of poisons, route of administration, clinical presentation, general examination, and investigation, evaluation of the case by PSS and MEWS, outcome, and time of discharge. Results: The study's findings demonstrated that 594 patients were hospitalized overall during the research period with a greater percentage of male cases than female cases. The most affected age group was 2 – 5 years old and from rural regions. The most prevalent type of poisoning was pesticides followed by bleaching and drugs. Considering the place of exposure, 92.1% of cases were at home. The oral route was the most frequently mode of poisoning. As regards outcome 66% of cases were improved and dead cases constituted 8.6%. Regarding PSS, the vast majority of cases were mild and moderate. Regarding MEWS low and mild cases were the majority. Conclusion and recommendations: Most of the poisonings were due to ingestion. Pesticides and medications were the most commonly reported toxic agents in all age groups with a mortality rate of 8.6%. When PSS and MEWS were combined, they were good prognostic markers to predict acute poisoning in children including the degree of special care required, the severity of a patient's illness, and the necessity for ICU hospitalization.

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The Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences and Applied Toxicology
Volume 24, Issue 3
September 2024
Pages 107-120

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