Acute Drug Poisoning in Tunisian Children: About 150 Cases

Background: Acute drug poisoning remains an important public health problem and represents the second most frequent accidental disease in children. In this study, we identified epidemiological and clinical features of children admitted for acute drug poisoning and related factors associated with suicidal poisoning. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study in the Department of Pediatrics, the Military Hospital, Tunis, over a period of 8 years (2008-2014). Children aged less than 16 yr and admitted for acute drug poisoning were included. Cases of drug addiction were excluded. Two groups were compared: accidental poisoning / suicidal poisoning. Results: We collected 150 cases. The ratio male / female was 1:1.2. The mean age was 4.3 yr. Poisoning was due to one drug in 82% of cases. Children were asymptomatic in 39% of cases, had digestive and neurologic symptoms respectively in 30% and 20% of cases, respectively. Psychotropics came in the first place (20%) followed by paracetamol (16%). Two groups were identified: accidental poisoning (74 %) and suicidal poisoning (26%). Four factors were significantly associated with suicidal poisoning: age P< 0.001, OR= 16.25, 95% IC : [6.44-40.95]), female gender (P=0.011, OR= 5.4, 95% IC: [2.09-13.91]), multiple drug intake (P < 0.001, OR= 9.42, 95% IC: [3.05-29.03]) and use of psychotropics (P= 0.003, OR=4.81, 95%IC: [2.06-11.26]) . Conclusion: Two groups had to be distinguished: accidental and suicidal drug poisoning. The identification of their characteristics and their predisposing factors is necessary in order to take appropriate preventive actions.