Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 19, 2026

Handheld Metal Detector Screening for Metallic Foreign Body Ingestion in Children
04:55

Handheld Metal Detector Screening for Metallic Foreign Body Ingestion in Children

Published on: September 11, 2018

Unintentional poisoning in young children: does developmental stage predict the type of substance accessed and

M Schmertmann1, A Williamson, D Black

  • 1School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Child: Care, Health and Development
|August 30, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Child development stage significantly impacts poisoning risk in young children. Younger children (12-17 months) are more prone to non-medicinal poisonings, while older children (24-41 months) face higher risks from medicinal substances.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Toxicology
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Poisoning risk in children aged 0-4 years is often analyzed as a single group, masking critical differences in substance type based on age.
  • These differences are linked to developmental stages, but prior research has not examined developmental stage's predictive value for poisoning by substance type.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the predictive value of child developmental stage for poisoning by substance type in children aged 0-4 years.
  • To utilize 3-month age intervals as a proxy for developmental stage, adjusting for sex, socioeconomic status, and remoteness.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based dataset of unintentional poisoning hospitalizations in children aged 0-4 years was analyzed.
  • Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess associations between substance type and age, sex, socioeconomic status, and remoteness.

Main Results:

  • Children aged 12-17 months had significantly higher odds of non-medicinal poisoning.
  • Children aged 24-41 months had significantly higher odds of medicinal poisoning.
  • Males and children from disadvantaged or remote areas had increased odds of non-medicinal poisoning.

Conclusions:

  • Child development stages influence children's environmental access and subsequent poisoning risks.
  • The likelihood of medicinal versus non-medicinal poisoning changes significantly with age.
  • Child development is a significant predictor of the type of substance a child may access and ingest.
Abstract

Keywords:
developmentinfantodds ratiospoisoningpreschool child

More Related Videos

Use of a Piglet Model for the Study of Anesthetic-induced Developmental Neurotoxicity (AIDN): A Translational Neuroscience Approach06:38

Use of a Piglet Model for the Study of Anesthetic-induced Developmental Neurotoxicity (AIDN): A Translational Neuroscience Approach

Published on: June 11, 2017

Psychophysical Tracking Method to Measure Taste Preferences in Children and Adults09:17

Psychophysical Tracking Method to Measure Taste Preferences in Children and Adults

Published on: July 16, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios01:26

Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios

Pharmaceutical poisoning can occur through various channels, impacting an estimated 2 million hospitalized patients in the U.S. annually with serious adverse drug responses. These scenarios encompass both therapeutic uses, such as drug toxicity, where even standard dosages can lead to severe central nervous system depression, and non-therapeutic exposures, including accidental ingestion by children, and environmental and occupational exposures.Unintentional poisonings often involve exploratory...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
Prevention of Further Absorption of Poison01:14

Prevention of Further Absorption of Poison

In cases of acute poisoning, the primary objective is to prevent further absorption of the toxic substance into the body. Immediate interventions using various decontamination techniques targeting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract can achieve this. Decontamination is crucial to prevent poison from entering the systemic circulation, which involves washing affected areas with water and mild soap and removing contaminated clothing. Once external decontamination is done, attention must be turned to...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Treatment Strategies01:26

Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Treatment Strategies

Treatment strategies for poisoning are a critical aspect of emergency medicine, focusing on preventing the absorption of toxins and enhancing their elimination. When a poisoning incident occurs, the first response is to halt exposure and decontaminate the patient, particularly through gastrointestinal (GI) methods if the poison was ingested.Gastrointestinal Decontamination Techniques:Activated charcoal is the cornerstone of GI decontamination. It works through adsorption, binding the toxin to...
Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview01:21

Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview

When it comes to infants and young children, they are typically administered smaller doses of medication in comparison to adults. This is primarily because their organ functions still need to fully develop, meaning their bodies are not as efficient at metabolizing or eliminating drugs. Additionally, their blood-brain barrier is more permeable than in adults. As a result, high concentrations of drugs can easily penetrate the central nervous system (CNS), potentially leading to neurological...