Citation

Jacobsen P, Senior Researcher KJ. Acta Paediatr. 2012; 101(8): 873-876.

Affiliation

Danish Poison Information Centre and Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark. National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, II, DK-1353 Copenhagen K, Denmark.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1651-2227.2012.02714.x

PMID

22537208

Abstract

Aim:  To study poisoning mortality from birth to the end of teenage. Methods:  Registry study within the Danish population, including all deaths from poisoning in the 0-19 years age groups for the years 1970-2006. Results:  Poisoning mortality was age dependent with a modest peak in preschool children due to accidents and a very steep increase from 0.1/10(5) person years (p.y.) at 12 years to 6.1/10(5) p.y. at 19 years. Accidents, suicide and undetermined manner of death all contributed to the increase. A significant proportion of accidental and undetermined manner of death was caused by opioides and probably abuse related. During the study period mortality decreased by more than 50% with all manners of death contributing significantly to the decline. Carbon monoxide poisoning was the overall dominating cause of death and contributed most to reduction of mortality. Poisoning death caused by opioides and unspecified drugs were unchanged over time. Conclusion:  Poisoning mortality among the youngest Danish children was dominated by accidental poisonings. During teenage the level and pattern of adults was approached with respect to suicidal and abuse related deaths. A fall in mortality since mid-eighties was explained by fewer deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning. © 2012 The Author(s)/Acta Paediatrica © 2012 Foundation Acta Paediatrica.

Language: en