The authors analyzed cases of non-drug poisoning in children, who have been hospitalized with this diagnosis at the 1st and 2nd Children Clinic of Medical Faculty, Komensky University and Children Clinic of Anesthesiology and Intensive Medicine with Policlinic in Bratislava. In the period of 1996–2000 there were 336 cases of non-drug poisoning, representing 53.2% of all cases of intoxications of hospitalized child patients with this kind of diagnosis. Patients at the age of 15–18 years represented the most frequent age group (34.8%). Alcohol abuse was the most frequent non-drug intoxication in child patients (44%). The blood level of alcohol in the child patients and adolescents was most frequently 1.5–2.0 per thousand, while values of alcohol above 3.0 per thousand were determined in four patients. Chemicals (26%), plants (12%), drugs of abuse (8%), mushrooms (8%) were frequent causes of non-drug poisoning in children. The use of thorn-apple, rat poison and aromatic lamp oil resulted in a significant number of hospitalizations of child patients. In the analyzed cohort there were 95 serious intoxications, four cases of severe intoxications and three fatal poisoning after ingestion of mushrooms.

        Key words: non-drug poisoning, children, degree of poisoning seriousness