Subject: The aim of this study was to clarify to determine the causes of childhood poisonings by time on account of socioeconomic and cultural alterations in Çukurova region and to steadily attain the data for treatment and prevention.

Methods: This study was composed of poisoning cases attending to pediatric emergency medicine room from 1997 to 2001 with ages between 0-14 years old. The data about poisoning cases were extracted from patients’ medical records in emergency room. In the study demographics of cases, the route and reason of poisonings and materials causing poisonings were evaluated.

Findings: In 5 years period totally 486 patients, 250 boys and 236 girls, were admitted to pediatric emergency room. Most of the poisoning cases were due to an accident (89,3%), and they were between 1-3 years old. Suicide attempts had the highest ratio in cases over 10 years age, and were more common in girls. The causes of poisoning were found to be drugs (42,6%), animal-insect bites (11,1%), insectisides-farming disinfectants (10,3%) and costic substances (8,6%). Most cases with drug poisonings were caused by CNS drugs, especially amitriptiline (32,8%). In all poisoning cases, 99,6% of cases have recovered completely but two cases (snake and scorpion envenomation) died (0,4%).

Result: The majority of poisonings in the childhood period happen due toaccidental ingestion of drugs. This condition shows us that simple precautions like family education, keeping drugs unreachable for children, unavailability of drugs without prescription and child-resistant package may prevent most of the poisonings.

Childhood Epidemiology Poisoning