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Iron poisoning in young children: association with the birth of a sibling

David N Juurlink1, Milton Tenenbein, Gideon Koren

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. david.juurlink@ices.on.ca

CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal = Journal De L'Association Medicale Canadienne
|June 11, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Pregnancy increases the risk of iron poisoning in young children. Keeping iron supplements safely stored during the year surrounding a sibling's birth can prevent nearly half of all hospital admissions for iron poisoning.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Toxicology
  • Public Health
  • Maternal-Child Health

Background:

  • Iron poisoning is a leading cause of accidental death in young children.
  • Perinatal iron therapy and the appealing appearance of iron tablets pose a significant hazard to other young children in the household.
  • The study investigates the link between iron poisoning in children and the birth of a new sibling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the association between iron poisoning in young children and the birth of a sibling.
  • To identify periods of increased risk for iron poisoning in relation to childbirth.
  • To inform preventative strategies for iron poisoning in vulnerable pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based case-control study was conducted using linked healthcare databases in Ontario.
  • Records of mothers with children under 3 years old admitted for iron poisoning were compared to matched controls.
  • The study period spanned from April 1, 1991, to March 31, 2000.

Main Results:

  • Out of 40 children hospitalized for iron poisoning, 42% occurred within a year of a sibling's birth.
  • Children whose mothers had recently given birth were nearly twice as likely to experience iron poisoning within six months of the sibling's arrival (OR 1.9).
  • The risk of iron poisoning was significantly elevated in the postpartum year, with a nearly 4-fold increase in the first postpartum month (OR 3.6).

Conclusions:

  • Pregnancy and the postpartum period are critical risk factors for iron poisoning in young children.
  • The immediate postpartum period presents the highest risk for iron poisoning incidents.
  • Preventative measures, such as securing iron supplements, during the year surrounding a sibling's birth could halve hospital admissions for pediatric iron poisoning.
Abstract

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