Paediatric Poisoning Panic and Forensic Toxicologist

Abstract

Poisoning forms a reasonable chunk of morbidity and mortality amongst cases referred to the  hospitals in India. Such cases comprise almost all age groups in both genders, but it is always panicking  when it is a paediatric patient suffering from any manner of poisoning; most commonly accidental. It is  obvious that poisoning cases need more attention so as to check mortality. Poisoning in children by  biological plants is not uncommon as children are attracted towards the plants and their colourful fruits  while playing. These cases may produce severe symptoms and may prove fatal. We are presenting a  case report of a 2½ year old female child who consumed seeds of some plant while playing and suffered  with severe vomiting within short duration of its consumption. It created great panic amongst the relatives  of the patient as well as treating personnel as identity of the culprit seeds was not established; coupled  with the fact that malnourished child was diagnosed to also suffer from some hematological disorder.  Present case is a good example of multidisciplinary approach of a poisoning condition of clinical nature  and hence discussed in detail.