Pediatric intoxication, due to the high vulnerability of children and its frequent occurrence, is a serious worldwide health concern. One of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in children is acute poisoning; younger children are more likely to experience accidental poisoning, whereas adolescents are more likely to experience purposeful poisoning. There are regional, social, and age-related variations in poisoning patterns that occur all around the world. Effective management of pediatric poisoning requires understanding the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics specific to children, which differ substantially from adults. Despite advancements in the understanding of pediatric toxicology, challenges remain in the accurate diagnosis and management of poisoning in children due to the variability in symptoms and the need for age-specific treatment protocols. Regular surveillance and updated research are crucial to improve prevention strategies and therapeutic outcomes in pediatric poisoning cases.
The aim of this study is to contribute to the global understanding and improvement of pediatric care by evaluating and enhancing the use of the Poison Severity Score (PSS) in acute pediatric intoxication cases at Damietta General Hospital, with the broader goal of reducing childhood morbidity and mortality worldwide.