Journal of Isfahan Medical School

Journal of Isfahan Medical School

An 11-Year Study of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Patients Aged 6 Months to 18 Years in Three Referral Centers in Isfahan Province

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors
1 Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2 Medical student, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
3 Department of Clinical Toxicology, Isfahan Clinical Toxicology Research Center, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Abstract
Background: Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas produced during the incomplete combustion of organic materials. Because of its high affinity for hemoglobin, CO can be dangerous even at low concentrations. Despite its clinical importance, CO poisoning in children has been less frequently studied. This study aimed to evaluate the demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics, as well as the outcomes of CO poisoning in pediatric patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 on patients aged 6 months to 18 years admitted to one tertiary pediatric referral hospital and two tertiary poisoning referral hospitals in Isfahan Province. Patients admitted between 2011 and 2024 with a diagnosis of acute CO poisoning were included. Data were extracted from patients’ medical records. Findings: A total of 110 patients were included. The mean age of the patients was 8.5±5.4 years, and 50 patients (45.5%) were male. Most poisonings occurred at home (100 patients, 90.9%). Moreover, 48 patients (43.6%) were alone at the time of poisoning, while 62 patients (56.4%) were poisoned along with at least one other person. Patients had metabolic acidosis, elevated lactate, elevated BUN, elevated CPK, and low HCO3, all of which significantly trended toward normalization after 6 hours of hospitalization. Oxygen therapy was associated with higher survival (p<0.05), although the rate of complications was also higher among these patients. Conclusion: CO poisoning in children may present with various nonspecific symptoms. Early diagnosis, careful clinical and laboratory evaluation, and timely treatment, particularly oxygen therapy, may help improve outcomes and reduce complications.

Highlights

Rasool Kermani: Google Scholar

Shiva Samsamshariat: Google Scholar

Keywords
Subjects

Volume 44, Issue 878
1st Week, Novwmber
November and December 2026

  • Receive Date 03 December 2025
  • Accept Date 03 November 2026