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Characteristics of Fatal Poisonings Among Infants and Young Children in the United States

Christopher E Gaw1,2,3, Allison E Curry1,2, Kevin C Osterhoudt1,2,3

  • 1Divisions of Emergency Medicine.

Pediatrics
|March 10, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Fatal child poisonings are preventable. Opioids are the leading cause, with over-the-counter medications also contributing significantly to these tragic deaths in young children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Toxicology
  • Public Health
  • Child Safety

Background:

  • Fatal poisoning is a significant, yet preventable, cause of death in young children.
  • Understanding the circumstances surrounding these deaths is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize fatal pediatric poisonings using data from child death reviews.
  • To identify demographic, supervisory, and substance-related factors associated with these fatalities.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from the National Fatality Review-Case Reporting System (NFR-CRS) for children aged 5 years and younger.
  • Inclusion of data from 40 states spanning the years 2005 to 2018.
  • Descriptive statistical analysis of demographic, death investigation, and substance-related variables.

Main Results:

  • 731 poisoning-related fatalities were reported among children aged 5 years and younger between 2005 and 2018.
  • Opioids were the most frequent substances involved (47.3%), followed by over-the-counter medications (14.8%).
  • Fatalities predominantly occurred in the home (65.1%), with a notable proportion involving infants under 1 year old (42.1%).

Conclusions:

  • Opioids represent the primary substance involved in fatal pediatric poisonings.
  • Over-the-counter medications remain a significant factor in child fatalities, underscoring the need for ongoing vigilance.
  • Tailored prevention measures are essential to reduce the incidence of fatal poisonings in young children.
Abstract

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