Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Apr 3, 2026
Date Accepted: Sep 12, 2026
Etiology, clinical features, and outcomes of acute poisoning among children at a provincial pediatric hospital in Vietnam: A retrospective descriptive study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Acute poisoning in children remains a significant cause of emergency admission and is largely preventable. Its epidemiological profile varies across settings according to age, household environment, and locally available toxic agents. Understanding the patterns, management, and outcomes of pediatric poisoning is important for improving prevention and clinical care.
Objective:
To investigate the etiology, clinical presentations, and outcomes of acute poisoning among children living in rural areas of Vietnam.
Methods:
A retrospective descriptive study was conducted among 276 pediatric poisoning cases. Data were summarized on age, sex, time from poisoning to hospitalization, location and mode of poisoning, route of exposure, poisoning agents, treatment, and outcomes. Exposure routes were analyzed as documented in the medical records, including cases with more than one route of intoxication.
Results:
Children aged 1–5 years accounted for the largest proportion of cases (54.7%), and males were slightly more common than females (53.6% vs. 46.4%). Among 242 cases with available timing data, 67.4% were hospitalized within 6 hours. Poisoning occurred mainly at home (96.4%) and was predominantly unintentional (96.0%). All intentional poisonings occurred in children older than 10 years. Ingestion was the main route of exposure (79.7%), followed by bites (17.8%). The most frequent poisoning agents were food (21.0%), other medications (16.3%), insect stings or bites (14.1%), and other chemical substances (12.0%). Treatment was mostly supportive, particularly intravenous fluids (80.4%), while outcomes were favorable, with 97.5% discharged and no in-hospital deaths.
Conclusions:
Pediatric poisoning in this setting mainly affected young children and usually resulted from unintentional home exposure. Most cases had good outcomes, but the findings highlight the need for household-level prevention, caregiver education, and age-specific strategies for intentional poisoning in older children.
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