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Poisoning in children in Japan
Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|July 1, 1997
Summary
In Japan, tobacco was the leading cause of poisoning in young children, unlike in the US where pharmaceuticals were most common. This highlights significant differences in childhood poisoning exposures between the two countries.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Pediatric Health
- Public Health
Background:
- The Japan Poison Information Centre (JPIC) recorded 31,510 child poisoning inquiries in 1995.
- Tobacco products were the most frequent cause of poisoning in Japanese children.
- Children aged 1 year and younger represented a significant portion of household product ingestion cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate patterns of poison exposure in children in Japan.
- To compare Japanese childhood poisoning data with that from the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC).
Main Methods:
- Analysis of inquiry data from the Japan Poison Information Centre (JPIC) for fiscal year 1995.
- Comparison with available data from the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC).
Main Results:
- Tobacco was the most common implicated product (20%) in Japan.
- 83.3% of household product ingestions occurred in children aged 1 year or younger.
- Children under 1 year old accounted for 35.7% of Japanese poisoning inquiries.
- Pharmaceutical products were the leading cause of poisoning in the US, with only 12.1% involving children under 1 year old.
Conclusions:
- Childhood poisoning exposures in Japan differ significantly from those reported in the US.
- Tobacco and household products are major concerns for pediatric poisoning in Japan, particularly for infants.
- Further research is needed to understand and address these specific pediatric poisoning risks in Japan.