Öz
Objective: Carbon monoxide poisoning is a serious health problem that can be fatal and can lead to mass poisoning. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the characteristics, clinical and laboratory findings of children who admitted to the emergency department with carbon monoxide poisoning.
Material and Methods: One hundred and fourteen cases who admitted to the Kırıkkale University Medical Faculty, Pediatric Emergency Department with carbon monoxide poisoning between 2014-2020 were examined retrospectively. The demographic features of the patients, important aspects of their admission, signs, symptoms and the laboratory values were examined. The basic laboratory values were compared by two-group comparisons according to disease severity and hyperbaric oxygen treatment status
Results: There were 56 female and 58 male patients with a median age of 8. One hundred and two cases admitted with at least one affected person from their family. The most frequent source of carbon monoxide was heating stove and admission was most frequent in January. The most common symptom was nausea/vomiting. While the median laboratory values of the patients were usually between normal ranges, there were patients with abnormal values for carboxyhemoglobin, lactate, troponin, INR, blood glucose, liver damage tests. When mild and moderate cases were compared, carboxyhemoglobin, lactate and INR levels were higher in moderate cases. Two severe cases were excluded from the comparison. Carboxyhemoglobin, lactate and troponin T levels were higher in hyperbaric oxygen treated group than the other groups.
Conclusion: Awareness should be raised for carbon monoxide poisoning that may cause serious problems in childhood and that can be difficult to diagnose due to its symptoms. All measures should be taken for the periods of the year when carbon monoxide poisoningzel is frequently seen.