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The risk associated with poisonings in children
A G Marchi1, G Messi, S Renier
1Emergency Department and Poison Control Centre, IRCCS Istituto per l'Infanzia, Trieste, Italy.
Insights
Childhood poisonings decreased with safety caps on medications, but household product poisonings rose, especially in toddlers. Enhanced prevention strategies are crucial for child safety.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Toxicology
- Public Health
- Child Safety
Background:
- Childhood poisonings represent a significant public health concern.
- Identifying high- and low-risk substances is essential for effective prevention.
- Understanding age-related risks informs targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the risks associated with childhood poisonings.
- To identify trends in poisoning types and age-related differences.
- To evaluate the impact of safety packaging on poisoning incidents.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 6175 pediatric hospital admissions in Northern Italy (1975-1990).
- Categorization of substances by risk based on exposure frequency and sequelae severity.
- Stratification of data by age groups: 0-4, 5-9, and 10-13 years.
Main Results:
- A notable decrease in drug-related poisonings observed in 1983-1990 compared to 1975-1982.
- An increase in poisonings from household products, particularly in children aged 0-2 years, during the later period.
- Introduction of safety caps and containers for drugs correlated with reduced drug poisonings.
Conclusions:
- Safety closures for medications have proven effective in reducing poisoning incidents.
- There is an urgent need to extend safety closure initiatives to household products.
- Strengthening primary prevention through health education and information for parents and adolescents is vital.
Abstract:
The risk associated with poisonings in children was assessed on 6175 subjects admitted to the pediatric hospitals of 3 regions of Northern Italy between 1975 and 1990. The frequency of exposures and the severity of sequelae allowed high- and low-risk substances to be identified. Risks were studied separately in the 0-4, 5-9 and 10-13 y age group to determine age-related differences. A decrease in drug-related poisonings and an increase of those caused by household products, particularly in the first 2 y of life, were observed in 1983-90 as against 1975-82 in association with the introduction of safety caps and containers for drugs. Our study points out the need to strengthen active primary prevention through health education and parental and adolescent information, and to improve passive prevention through the extension of safety closures to household products.