BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Identifying international differences in the epidemiology of acute poisonings in children may help in improving prevention. We sought to evaluate the international epidemiological differences in acute poisonings in children presenting to emergency departments (EDs) from 8 different global regions. METHODS: This was an international multicenter cross-sectional prospective study including children younger than 18 years with acute poisonings presenting to 105 EDs in 20 countries was conducted. Data collection started at each ED between January and September 2013, and continued for 1 year. RESULTS: During the study period, we registered 363,245 pediatric ED presentations, of which 1727 were for poisoning (0.47%; 95% confidence interval, 0.45%-0.50%), with a significant variation in incidence between the regions. Full data were obtained for 1688 presentations. Most poisonings (1361 [80.6%]) occurred at home with either ingestion (1504 [89.0%]) or inhalation of the toxin (126 [7.6%]). Nonintentional exposures accounted for 1157 poisonings (68.5%; mainly in South America and Eastern Mediterranean region), with therapeutic drugs (494 [42.7%]), household products (310 [26.8%]), and pesticides (59 [5.1%]) being the most common toxins. Suicide attempts accounted for 233 exposures (13.8%; mainly in the Western Pacific region and North America), with therapeutic drugs (214 [91.8%], mainly psychotropics and acetaminophen) being the most common toxins. Significant differences between regions were found in both types of poisonings. Recreational poisonings were more common in Europe and Western Pacific region. No patient died. CONCLUSIONS: There are substantial epidemiological differences in acute poisonings among children in different countries and regions of the globe. International best practices need to be identified for prevention of acute poisonings in childhood.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Identifying international differences in the epidemiology of acute poisonings in children may help in improving prevention. We sought to evaluate the international epidemiological differences in acute poisonings in children presenting to emergency departments (EDs) from 8 different global regions. METHODS: This was an international multicenter cross-sectional prospective study including children younger than 18 years with acute poisonings presenting to 105 EDs in 20 countries was conducted. Data collection started at each ED between January and September 2013, and continued for 1 year. RESULTS: During the study period, we registered 363,245 pediatric ED presentations, of which 1727 were for poisoning (0.47%; 95% confidence interval, 0.45%-0.50%), with a significant variation in incidence between the regions. Full data were obtained for 1688 presentations. Most poisonings (1361 [80.6%]) occurred at home with either ingestion (1504 [89.0%]) or inhalation of the toxin (126 [7.6%]). Nonintentional exposures accounted for 1157 poisonings (68.5%; mainly in South America and Eastern Mediterranean region), with therapeutic drugs (494 [42.7%]), household products (310 [26.8%]), and pesticides (59 [5.1%]) being the most common toxins. Suicide attempts accounted for 233 exposures (13.8%; mainly in the Western Pacific region and North America), with therapeutic drugs (214 [91.8%], mainly psychotropics and acetaminophen) being the most common toxins. Significant differences between regions were found in both types of poisonings. Recreational poisonings were more common in Europe and Western Pacific region. No patient died. CONCLUSIONS: There are substantial epidemiological differences in acute poisonings among children in different countries and regions of the globe. International best practices need to be identified for prevention of acute poisonings in childhood.
Authors: Aleksandra Świderska; Marek Wiśniewski; Marek Wiergowski; Anna Krakowiak; Jacek Sein Anand Journal: BMC Pharmacol Toxicol Date: 2018-10-10 Impact factor: 2.483
Authors: Giovanni N Berta; Federica Di Scipio; Francesca M Bosetti; Barbara Mognetti; Federica Romano; Maria E Carere; Anna C Del Giudice; Emanuele Castagno; Claudia Bondone; Antonio F Urbino Journal: Ital J Pediatr Date: 2020-06-11 Impact factor: 2.638
Authors: Simon Craig; Franz E Babl; Stuart R Dalziel; Charmaine Gray; Colin Powell; Khalid Al Ansari; Mark D Lyttle; Damian Roland; Javier Benito; Roberto Velasco; Julia Hoeffe; Diana Moldovan; Graham Thompson; Suzanne Schuh; Joseph J Zorc; Maria Kwok; Prashant Mahajan; Michael D Johnson; Robert Sapien; Kajal Khanna; Pedro Rino; Javier Prego; Adriana Yock; Ricardo M Fernandes; Indumathy Santhanam; Baljit Cheema; Gene Ong; Shu-Ling Chong; Andis Graudins Journal: Trials Date: 2020-01-13 Impact factor: 2.279
Authors: Mohammad Ali Alghafees; Abdullah Abdulmonen; Mahmoud Eid; Ghadah Ibrahim Alhussin; Mohammed Qasem Alosaimi; Ghadah Saad Alduhaimi; Mohammed Talal Albogami; Mohammed Alhelail Journal: Ann Saudi Med Date: 2022-02-03 Impact factor: 1.526