Abstract

Background: Acute poisoning is one of the common pediatric emergencies and can lead to serious consequences or even death if not promptly detected and managed. Early identification of factors related to the toxic agents, clinical manifestations, and severity plays an important role in prognosis and management. Objective: To describe the characteristics of acute poisoning in children at the Pediatric Center of Thai Nguyen National Hospital during the period 2023 - 2025. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted on patients diagnosed with acute poisoning at the Pediatric Center, Thai Nguyen National Hospital. Results: The incidence of acute poisoning was higher in boys (61.7%) than in girls (31.3%). The most affected age group was 6 - 15 years (47.9%), followed by children aged 1 - ≤ 5 years (42.8%). The gastrointestinal tract was the most common route of exposure (54.8%). Intentional poisoning due to sedatives, analgesics, and antibiotics accounted for the highest proportion (53.3%), followed by chemical agents (26.7%). The most frequent clinical manifestations were dermatologic (46.8%), gastrointestinal (41.1%), and systemic symptoms (41%). Conclusion: Acute poisoning in children was most commonly observed in children from 6 - 15 years, predominantly caused by medications and chemical substances. Clinical manifestations were diverse, involving multiple organ systems, with the gastrointestinal tract and skin being the most frequently affected.