Accidental Mass Poisoning in Children - A Case Report

Accidental poisoning, a common paediatric emergency, is one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality in children. More than half of all cases reported to the American Association of Poison Control Centers involve children under the age of six. And sadly, the majority of these accidental poisonings occur at home. However in India, the precise incidence of accidental poisoning among children is uncertain due to lack of reporting of all the cases. In India, pesticides are used abundantly for cultivation and are stored negligently at home, making them a potential source of accidental poisoning in children especially in rural areas. The best way to minimize paedi-atric accidental poisoning is by creating awareness about safe use and storage of poisonous substances and constant supervision of children. A case of accidental paedi-atric mass poisoning due to organophosphorus pesticide is being reported in this article.