Background: Rapid socioeconomic development in India during the last decade may have led to changes in the profile of childhood poisoning. Objective: To determine the profile and outcome of pediatric patients presenting with poisoning to a tertiary care center in North India. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 140 children aged 2 months to 18 years admitted with a definitive history of poisoning between August 2007 and August 2010. Results: The median age of the enrolled children was 3.5 years (IQR: 2, 10) and majority were boys (90%). Hydrocarbons (27.9%) and pharmaceutical products (16.4%) were the most frequently implicated agents. The incidence of suicidal poisoning was relatively high (10%), with girls being the predominant victims (8/14). Majority (83; 59.3%) required only observation. Definitive treatment in the form of antidotes and anti-venom was required in 9 (6%) children. The median (IQR) duration of hospital stay was 2 (1, 3) days and none of them died. Conclusion: The trends for childhood poisoning noted at our center were different from previous hospital-based studies in two important ways such as in the nature of the poisoning agents used and the higher incidence of suicidal poisoning.

Key words: Poisoning; Suicidal; Children.