Table 6 Study characteristics and relevant findings of studies of childhood poisoning and toxicological exposure
From: Epidemiology of childhood injuries in Saudi Arabia: a scoping review
Author | Timeframe | Study type (sample size) | Relevant findings | Region | STROBE Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(Izuora & Adeoye, 2001) [46] | 1992 - 1998 | Retrospective N= 168 | The majority of accidental poisoning (63%) occurred in children aged between 1-3 years. The most frequently involved substance was drugs (64.3%). Most cases (>60%) were asymptomatic. No reported deaths. | Eastern region - Hafr Albatin | 12 |
(Al-Binali et al., 2009) [47] | 1990 - 1995 | Retrospective N=72 | The most common type of corrosives was 5.25% hypochlorite (50%), followed by kerosene in (16.7%), and caustic soda (12.5%). No action was taken by parents of 90.2% of the cases. No reported deaths. | Southern region - Asir | 10 |
(Alanazi et al., 2015) [48] | 2009 - 2011 | Retrospective N=315 | The majority of child poison occurred among toddlers (72%). Most poisoning incidents occurred in males (59%). The most frequently involved substance was drugs (63.2%). Age was a significant predictor of hospital admission (OR: 1.19, P < 0.05). | Riyadh | 17 |
(Bakhaidar et al., 2015) [49] | 2008 - 2012 | Retrospective N=129 | Children under 12 years represented 44.2% chemical poisoning admissions. More than half of poisoning cases (54.3%) were females. Accidental poisoning occurred in 92.9% of children younger than 12 years. No reported deaths. | Western region | 15 |
(Alghadeer et al., 2018) [50] | 2010 - 2016 | Retrospective N=735 | The mean age was 2.7 years. The most common type of poisoning was drugs (70%). The majority of cases were asymptomatic. | Riyadh | 16 |
(Alanazi et al., 2018) [51] | 2018 | Cross-sectional N=96 | More than third (35%) of poisoning cases were between 4-8 years and 24% were younger than 4 years. Poisoning injury were most common in males 57.3% compared to 42.7%. Accidental poisoning occurred in 94.8% whereas 5.2% were intended. The most common cause of poisoning was spoiled food (55.2%) The mortality rate was 3.1%. | Several regions | 5 |
(Alruwaili et al., 2019) [52] | 2016 - 2017 | Cross-sectional N=1035 | Most of toxicological exposed children (78.7%) were asymptomatic and 47.8% did not need an intervention. Most exposure incidents (91%) occurred in children younger than 6 years with 62.2% of them being younger than 3 years. The most frequently involved substance class was toxic household products in children younger than 6 years and pesticides in children 6 years or older. | Riyadh | 15 |