Epidemiology of accidental poisoning in children.

A recent national study of accidents to Australian children has shown that poisoning is a major cause of morbidity. However, the development of preventive strategies is hampered by the lack of detailed epidemiological studies of the problem. I report the results of a detailed study of cases of poisoning among children attending the Casualty Department of the Adelaide Children's Hospital. They indicate at-risk groups which are in need of specific preventive programmes. I stress the need to educate parents, and argue that hospitals have an important role to play in this process.