The epidemiology of accidental poisoning in children.

During a 1-year period (1 March 1982-28 February 1983) 272 children were admitted to the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, after accidental poisoning. More boys than girls were admitted, and children between the ages of 12 months and 3 years were the most vulnerable. More than half the patients were coloured; blacks and whites represented minorities. Most cases appear to occur during the summer months (November, December and January). Medicines were responsible for most cases of accidental poisoning in whites and coloureds, but household preparations were responsible for most cases in blacks. The above findings are compared with previous yearly statistics.