Changes of epidemiological indices of children intoxication during a 10-year period in Hamadan Province

Background: Unintentional drug intoxication is still a major cause of mortality and morbidity in young children. Method Materials: In order to study changes of epidemiological indices of children intoxication during a 10-year period in Hamadan Province, all cases admitted to Ghaem Hospital from 1995-1999 were recruited, and compared with all cases admitted to the same hospital from 1990-1994. Results: Mortality rate due to poisoning (4.8% to 0.6%), the time between intoxication and admission to the hospital (12 hours to 5.5 hours) and incidence of poisoning with Diphenoxylate (24.7% to4.4%) had decreased. The patients recieved more supportive care than the past, e.g. gastric washing (23.5% to30.8%), oxygen therapy (11.6% to18.3%), and serum therapy (6.2% to19.9%). Conclusion: Unfortunately, opioid intoxication (9.4%to13.8%), benzodiazepines intoxication (8.2% to13.8%), improper conditions at home (parental addiction, separation, psychological illnesses, and death and having two or more sibling under 5 years of age) increased. Male gender, seasonal predominance (summer and spring), accidental poisoning and oral route of intoxication were similar in both studies .It is concluded that because opioid and benzodiazepines intoxication in urban children have increased, immediate preventive programs are highly recommended.