Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 17, 2026
07:08
Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
Published on: March 6, 2018
Thirty-three-year experience on childhood poisoning
Ramazan Ozdemir1, Benan Bayrakci, Ozlem Tekşam
1Department of Pediatrics, Ihsan Doğramaci Children's Hospital, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
|October 26, 2012
Summary
This study analyzed pediatric acute poisoning cases from 1985-2008, finding most poisonings were accidental, home-based, and oral. Prevention efforts should focus on young children and awareness of common toxins.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Toxicology
- Public Health
Background:
- Acute poisoning remains a significant concern in pediatric intensive care.
- Understanding trends in poisoning over time is crucial for effective prevention and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze trends in acute pediatric poisoning cases over a 23-year period (1985-2008).
- To compare current findings with previous data (1975-1984) to inform prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of patient records admitted to a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for acute poisoning.
- Inclusion criteria: patients with acute poisoning between November 1985 and October 2008.
- Data retrieval for 2251 patients.
Main Results:
- Most poisonings occurred at home (92%) via oral route (92.5%), often with a single intoxicant (81.3%).
- Peak poisoning incidence observed in boys aged 1-5 years and girls aged 13-16 years.
- Accidental poisonings accounted for 67.4%, suicidal attempts for 25.9%, and therapeutic errors for 6.7%.
- Drug-related poisonings (64%) were more common than non-drug-related (36%). Analgesics-antipyretics were most frequent in drug-related cases; corrosive substances in non-drug cases.
- Colchicine and carbon monoxide were associated with the highest mortality.
- Overall mortality rate was 1.9%, with higher mortality in non-drug poisoning (3.9%) than drug-related (1.3%).
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of pediatric poisonings are preventable, especially in children under 6 years.
- Findings underscore the need for policy reforms to enhance awareness of toxins, promote safe storage, and improve home safety.
- Targeted prevention strategies are needed for different age groups and poisoning types.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Pharmaceutical 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...
01:26Pharmaceutical 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...
01:14Prevention 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...
01:26Anticholinesterase Agents: Poisoning and Treatment
Anticholinesterases, also known as cholinesterase inhibitors, work by blocking the breakdown of acetylcholine, leading to its accumulation in the synaptic cleft. This accumulation indirectly enhances both muscarinic and nicotinic actions. These agents are classified as reversible or irreversible based on their mechanism of action.
Irreversible agents form a strong bond with the cholinesterase enzyme, making it inactive. The breakdown of the phosphorylated enzyme is slower than the...
Irreversible agents form a strong bond with the cholinesterase enzyme, making it inactive. The breakdown of the phosphorylated enzyme is slower than the...
01:36Types of Toxins
Humans continually engage with an environment rich in potentially harmful chemicals. These are introduced to our bodies through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. These chemicals exist in various forms, such as air and environmental pollutants, agricultural chemicals, organic solvents, and heavy metals.
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
01:26Enhanced Elimination of Poison
Poison can be effectively removed from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract through various decontamination procedures.
Antidotes serve a crucial role in counteracting the effects of poison by inhibiting enzymes responsible for producing harmful drug metabolites. In some cases, these toxic metabolites can be neutralized by endogenous cosubstrates, which are maintained at specific concentrations to prevent interaction with cellular macromolecules and subsequent cell death.
Renal excretion is the...
Antidotes serve a crucial role in counteracting the effects of poison by inhibiting enzymes responsible for producing harmful drug metabolites. In some cases, these toxic metabolites can be neutralized by endogenous cosubstrates, which are maintained at specific concentrations to prevent interaction with cellular macromolecules and subsequent cell death.
Renal excretion is the...