Citation

Szkolnicka B, Mitrus M, Morawska J, Satora L, Targosz D. Przegl. Lek. 2005; 62(6): 564-567.

Affiliation

Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland. oit@cm-uj.krakow.pl

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Przeglad Lekarski)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16225125

Abstract

509 toxicological telephone enquires concerning children under 15 years have been provided by Krakow Poison Information Centre (PIC) in the year 2004. Medication drugs were involved in almost one half (n=208) the cases noted. 63.7% of calls concerned children under 4 years with a two-year-old group predominance. The main reason for poisoning in children under 4 were pharmaceuticals (42.6%), followed by pesticides (9.8%), corrosives (8.8%), hydrocarbons (8.1%), plants (5.5%) and detergents (3.7%); all exposure were accidental. Suicide attempts reached 32.3% in the 12-14 age group. In that group also a cases of psychoactive substances overdosing were noted. Most exposures in children reported to poison centre were accidental (87.2%). Thus, it is absolutely necessary to intensify prevention and education activity both for parents and primary school children to avoid the poisoning.