Epidemiology of paediatric poisoning reporting to a tertiary hospital in Ghana

South African Journal of Child Health

Clement Osei Appiah³  Isaac Nyanor³  Daniel Ansong¹  Evans Xorse Amuzu⁴  Charles Ayekum Frimpong³  Clara Nkyi²  Justice Sylverken⁵  Samuel Blay Nguah⁵ 

[1] Department of Child Health, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi;Department of Internal Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi;Research and Development Unit, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi;Research and Development Unit, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi,;Department of Child Health, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi

关键词: Poisons;    children;    kerosene;    Africa;    Ghana;   

DOI  :  

学科分类：农业科学（综合）

来源: Health and Medical Publishing Group

【 摘 要 】

Background.Childhood poisoning is an important cause of morbidity in both developed and developing countries. Epidemiological studies on accidental poisoning in children show a consistent pattern regarding age and gender. Childhood poisoning is predominant in children <6 years of age and has a male preponderance, as boys are more active with a drive to explore the environment. Objective.To document the epidemiology of home poisonings in Kumasi and its environs.  Methods.We conducted a retrospective study from January 2007 to January 2012 at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, a tertiary hospital in Ghana. Results.Poisoning is a significant health problem in the study area. A total of 253 children reported to the hospital with poisoning over the 61-month period, with an average of four cases per month. The male to female ratio was 1.58:1. The median age of the children was 24 months (interquartile range 24 - 48 months). Kerosene was the leading cause of poisoning (39.5%).  Conclusion.Paediatric poisoning is a major health hazard in children living in Kumasi and its environs. This can possibly be attributed to a lack of adequate supervision of children and poor storage of harmful substances in homes. Multidisciplinary interventions are needed to reduce the occurrence of the condition in the population at risk.

【 授权许可】

Unknown