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[Poisoning in first year of age. A multicentre study]
A G Marchi1, S Renier, F Valent
1U.O. SAPS-PRACCO, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste. marchi@burlo.trieste.it
Minerva Pediatrica
|October 2, 2004
Summary
Toxic exposures in infants are a growing concern. Improving parental education on poison prevention at home is crucial for preventing these completely avoidable incidents.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Toxicology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Toxic exposures in children represent a significant public health issue.
- Understanding the specific epidemiology and clinical features of poisoning in infants is essential for targeted prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of toxic exposures in children under one year of age.
- To compare these features with those observed in older children (1-4 years).
Main Methods:
- A prospective study was conducted in 14 Pediatric Emergency Departments (ED) during 2001.
- Data collected included epidemiological and clinical features, exposure circumstances (accidental/deliberate), and clinical outcomes.
- Comparisons were made with data from 1-4 year-old patients.
Main Results:
- Out of 1,026 children, 111 (10.8%) were under 1 year.
- Infant exposures occurred exclusively at home and accidentally, often due to parental errors (38.7%) and plant ingestions (22.5%).
- While most exposures were non-toxic or resulted in mild-to-moderate symptoms with prompt treatment, a concerning increase compared to previous studies was noted.
Conclusions:
- The rise in toxic exposures among children under 1 year warrants attention.
- These incidents are entirely preventable, highlighting the need for enhanced poison prevention education for parents.
- Improving home safety measures and parental awareness is critical to reduce childhood poisonings.