Mortality rate in acute poisoning in a pediatric toxicology department.

INTRODUCTION: Acute poisoning, an important health issue in children can result in some cases in severe evolution and even death. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to analyze cases of death caused by acute poisoning which occurred in a ten-year-period in a Pediatric Toxicology Department in Bucharest. METHODS: For the purpose of the study all medical records of the deceased patients with acute poisoning between 1995-2004 were analyzed with particular focus on the following criteria: etiology, age, social environment, type of intoxication (unintentional or intentional). RESULTS: Between 1995-2004, 46 fatal cases were recorded out of a total 8802 cases of acute poisoning (0.52%). The main two causes of death by acute poisoning were: caustics (16 cases--34.78%) and mushrooms (12 cases--26.08%), followed by carbon monoxide (7 cases 15.11%), pharmaceuticals (5 cases--10.86%), ethanol (2 cases--4.34%), pesticides (2 cases--4.34%), nitrites (1 case--2.17%) and lead tetraethyl (1 case--2.17%). CONCLUSIONS: Although morbidity in acute poisoning is still high, mortality is low, the registered average being 0.52%. The main agents causing death are caustics and mushrooms, and the most affected age group is that between 1 and 5 years of age.