[Acute poisoning in children in Vojvodina]

Abstract

The paper deals with acute poisoning among children in Voivodina from the point of view of frequency, characteristics and regional differences. The histories of the poisoned children aged 0-16 years, who were hospitalized in all eleven in-patient clinics in Voivodina during 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1989, were analysed. Acute poisoning in children accounted for 2.4% of hospital morbidity. The most frequent causes of poisoning were medicaments (60.6%), pesticides (8.7%), ethanol (6.34%), organic solvents (5.7%) and all other substances (18.35%). Poisoning occurred more often among boys than among girls (53.47%). The average age of the poisoned was 4.7 years. The average age of the poisoned girls was significantly higher than that of the poisoned boys. Poisoning usually took place during a "game", but a major number of poisonings was suicidal. There were great regional differences as regards the course of poisoning, sex and average age of the poisoned, circumstances of poisoning and period in which it happened. The children's age and circumstances of poisoning point to the absence of preventive measures or their failure.