Childhood and adolescence poisoning in NSW, Australia: an analysis of age, sex, geographic, and poison types

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to investigate whether there is any association between the types of poison substances and geographic locations for different age groups and sex. Design: This is a population based epidemiological study utilising routinely collected inpatient statistics. Setting: Data are collected as part of the routine vital health information system via all hospitals in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Patients: All patients aged between 0-19 years who were admitted to a hospital because of poisoning by the four major types of substances that were defined in the study in NSW in 2000. Main results: The standardised incidence ratios of poisoning related hospitalisation between metropolitan and rural areas varied across different poison types when compared with the NSW average. While there are few differences between metropolitan and rural areas for analgesic and chemical related poisoning admissions across different age groups and sex, differences in the standardised incidence ratios between geographic locations for psychotropic and venom related poisoning admissions were found. No significant difference in standardised mortality ratios were found between metropolitan and rural areas except for females in the 10-14 years age group (standardised mortality ratio 3.24, 95% confidence interval 1.69 to 6.21). Conclusions:The results obtained in this study, on the whole, provide some evidence for an association between poison types and geographic locations for psychotropic and venom related poisoning. P oisoning has been identified as one of the major causes of childhood and adolescence hospital emergency presentations and admissions in most developed countries including the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.

Intoxicações exógenas em crianças menores de seis anos atendidas em hospitais da região metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro

“…[4][5][6]17,18 Em relação à idade, notou-se uma variação significante com as intoxicações por medicamentos aumentando com a idade enquanto decresceu a participação dos produtos químicos de uso doméstico. Não existem maiores evidências de que a redução de 8% no número total de casos anuais de intoxicações, reflexo da diminuição em 1/4 das intoxicações por produtos químicos de uso doméstico, possa ser atribuída a qualquer tipo de ação de saúde pública especificamente orientada para tal problema no período estudado.…”

Unintentional injuries in the home environment: home safety

“…Grande parte das intoxicações foram causadas por medicamentos analgésicos e antitérmi-cos (43%) e psicotrópicos (34,8%). O paracetamol ocasionou o maior número de intoxicações; entre os psicotrópicos, predominaram os antidepressivos e benzodiazepínicos 59 .…”

A study on profile of poisoning in pediatric population

“…The most common agents involved in poisoning are over-the-counter (OTC) medications, prescription medications, household products, pesticides, kerosene, poisonous plants and animal or insect bites. 9 Poisoning is a significant global public health problem. The extent of the problem is varying from one country to the other.…”

“…15,16 The most common cause of acute medical illness in many countries has been exposure to toxic substances. 9,[17][18][19][20] General epidemiological data should be used to assist emergency department on proper management of poisoning cases especially for effective preventive and therapeutic approaches.…”