OBJECTIVE: To study the epidemiology of exogenous intoxications in children and adolescents
of Barra Garças, Mato Grosso, from January 2008 to September 2013. METHOD: This was a cross-sectional, retrospective, and descriptive epidemiological study.
Data were collected from the Disease Notification System (Sistema de Informação de
Agravos de Notificação [SINAN]) of the municipality, processed using Microsoft
Excel, and evaluated through BIOESTAT statistical software. The variables included
were: sex; age; toxic agent; time and place of service; route of administration;
circumstance; and classification of intoxication. The age range was established
according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, comprising
children aged from 0 to 9 years old and adolescents aged from 10 to 19 years old.
RESULTS: A total of 125 cases of accidental exogenous poisoning was registered, including
77 children and 48 adolescents. Food and beverages (38.4%) and drugs (24.0%) were
the most common groups of toxic agents responsible for the poisoning. The largest
age group affected by intoxication was composed of children aged from 0 to 4 years
old (43.2%) and adolescents aged from 10 to 14 years old (19.7%). Regarding the
circumstances, intoxication occurred due to suicide attempts (16.8%) and
accidental events (23.2%) in adolescents and children, respectively. The study
revealed a higher frequency of poisoning in girls. CONCLUSION: Exogenous intoxications occurred predominantly in children up to 4 years old,
through the accidental consumption of food or drinks. Thus, the adoption of
educational prevention programs for children's family members and caregivers is
necessary.