Pediatric pesticide poisonings in North Carolina: epidemiologic observations

In four years, 218 pesticide exposures were reported among North Carolina children. Epidemiologic follow-up revealed 50 symptomatic cases with nine fatalities. Mean age of exposed children was 27 months; boys were involved twice as frequently as girls. Agents most often implicated were anticoagulant rodenticides (17%) and organophosphate insecticides (16%). Sixty-eight percent of exposures were to products intended for household use. Special characteristics of pesticides that contribute to morbidity include exceptional toxicity, dermal penetration, and frequent application as food baits. Exposure histories indicate that high petroleum distillate content often adds to product toxicity.