CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RODENTICIDE POISONING IN CHILDREN AT THE VIETNAM NATIONAL CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
##plugins.themes.vojs.article.main##
Abstract
Objective: To delineate the epidemiological profle, clinical manifestations, and poisoning severity classifcation of pediatric rodenticide intoxication managed at the Vietnam National Children’s Hospital during the period 2020-2025.
Methods: A descriptive study utilizing retrospective data collection with convenience sampling. Eligible participants included patients diagnosed with rodenticide poisoning at the Vietnam National Children’s Hospital from September 1, 2020, to August 31, 2025.
Results: A total of 72 children with rodenticide poisoning were identifed, with a mean age of 4.8 ± 3.5 years; 69.4% were male, and 63.9% resided in rural areas. Children under 5 years constituted the majority. Exposure was predominantly gastrointestinal (90.3%), unintentional (80.6%), and most frequently involved liquid formulations (48.6%). Fluoroacetate derivatives accounted for 58.3% of cases and demonstrated a high prevalence of neurological manifestations, including seizures (100%), hypertonia (100%), nausea/vomiting (96.6%), and altered mental status (94.1%). In contrast, cases involving vitamin K antagonists exhibited milder clinical presentations, with 65.6% classifed as PSS grade 0 and no cases reaching grade 2. All PSS grade 2 cases (n = 18) occurred in the fuoroacetate group.
Conclusion: The study highlights substantial diferences in clinical characteristics and poisoning severity between the two rodenticide categories and underscores the importance of toxicant identifcation and risk stratifcation in the management of pediatric poisonings.
##plugins.themes.vojs.article.details##
Keywords
rodenticide poisoning, vitamin K antagonists, fuoroacetate
References
2. Gummin DD, Mowry JB, Beuhler M.C et al. 2022 Annual Report of the National Poison Data System(®) (NPDS) from America’s Poison Centers(®): 40th Annual Report. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2023;61(10):717-939. https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2023.2268981
3. Nguyễn Tân Hùng, Trương Thị Mai Hồng, Lê Ngọc Duy. Nguyên nhân và đặc điểm ngộ độc cấp trẻ em tại Bệnh viện Nhi Trung ương giai đoạn 2017 - 2020. Tạp chí Nghiên cứu và Thực hành Nhi khoa. 2021;5.https://doi.org/10.47973/jprp.v5i1.262
4. Ye L, Wang Z, Zhang H et al. Application of a new established system for toxic doses in children with 4-hydroxycoumarin rodenticide intoxication. Front Pediatr 2018;6:1-7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2018.00141
5. Koh SY, Kang MH, Kim BT et al. The Clinical Study of Rodenticide Intoxication in Children. J Korean Pediatr Soc 1986;29(3):305-311. 6. Morrongiello BA, Kiriakou S. Mothers’ home-safety practices for preventing six types of childhood injuries: what do they do, and why? J Pediatr Psychol 2004;29(4):285-297. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsh030
7. Dai Q, Wang L, Gao X et al. Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of Acute Poisoning in Children in Southwestern China: A Review of 1755 Cases from 2014 to 2020.Int J Gen Med 2022;15:133-142. https://doi.org/10.2147/ijgm.s342253
8. Proudfoot AT, Bradberry SM, Vale J.A. Sodium fuoroacetate poisoning. Toxicol Rev 2006;25(4):213-219.https://doi.org/10.2165/00139709-200625040-00002
9. Paradis C, Zarrouk E, de Ferrières O et al. Fatal case of sodium fuoroacetate poisoning in two young children. Toxicol Anal Clin 2023;35(3):262-265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxac.2023.04.002
10. Canitrot E, Moore L, Turgeon AF et al. Predictive validity and reliability of the Poisoning Severity Score in a pediatric poisoned population : a multicenter retrospective study. BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology 2024:1-15.https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4209125/v1