Fatores de risco que contribuem para o envenenamento pediátrico

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether the lack of knowledge of toxic agents in households is a risk factor for individual unintentional childhood poisoning. Methods:The case group (n = 25) was composed of caregivers of children under 60 months of age who underwent accidental oral poisoning and were treated at two reference hospitals in Porto Alegre, southern Brazil, and recorded in the Toxicology Information Center database. The control group (n = 25) was composed of caregivers of children matched for sex, age, and presence in their homes of the same toxic agents found in the case group, who sought emergency medical care at the same hospitals, but for other reasons. A structured questionnaire was administered to verify the following questions: sociodemographic data, clinical history, behavioral antecedents of caregivers, storage of toxic agents, history of previous poisoning accidents.Results: The children's mean age was 31.8 months (±0.97) and mean height was 93 cm (±11). Families, in both groups, were aware of the toxic action of agents available in their homes; however, caregivers in the control group were twice as likely to have such knowledge compared to the case group. Distraction was 15 times more likely to occur among caregivers of children who underwent poisoning compared to the control group. Storage of toxic agents below 150 cm was approximately 17 times more likely to occur in the group of children who underwent poisoning compared to children in the control group.Conclusions: Lack of knowledge of the toxic action of agents stored in households is not a risk factor for childhood poisoning. The attributable risks described in this study indicated that the elimination of other factors, such as distraction and storage below 150 cm, would lead to the prevention of 13 and 19% of poisonings in childhood, respectively. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2010;86(5):435-440: Risk factors, poisoning, accident prevention, home accidents, preschool child, behavior.

Poisoning in children and adolescents notified at a toxicology center in the Northeast of Brazil

“…12 Studies indicate that the reduction or elimination of the risk factors, such as the lack of caregivers' supervision and the improper storage of chemical products (in a height less than 150 cm), perhaps reduces about 13 to 19% of these childhood events, respectively. 12,13 According to WHO report 2 effective interventions in reducing poisoning should involve, in addition to the exclusion of toxic substances, broader strategies that encompasses the legal obligation of adopting embalagens especiais para crianças (EEPC) (seal proof packages for children) and packaging and marketing with non-lethal doses. 2,14 Also according to this report, the use of keys in cabinets and drawers are effective practices for prevention.…”

Análise das notificações de acidentes pediátricos na cidade de São Paulo

“…Os dados apontam também para os agentes de intoxicação/envenenamento, em sua maioria produtos químicos e medicamentos, que têm sido relatados como os maiores causadores de agravo na infância. Segundo estudos epidemiológicos, predominam casos de intoxicação em ambiente doméstico, dado que ressalta a importância das campanhas de divulgação para alertar os pais sobre os acidentes tóxicos com crianças e informar a necessidade de um atendimento médico imediato 12,13 .…”

Epidemiologia Social Aplicada Às Intoxicações Humanas

“…Nessa faixa etária, os fatores de exposição são mais facilmente influentes, envolvendo uma complexa interação de fatores relacionados à própria criança (fase oral, curiosidade), à substância tóxica envolvida (medicamentos e domissanitários, embalagens atrativas), ao ambiente (armazenamento inadequado) onde foi concretizado o acidente, ao comportamento da família e ao acesso à assistência de saúde [17][18][19] . Tem-se como consenso que, para prevenir esse agravo, faz-se necessário maior domínio das informações acerca de especificidades envolvidas na intoxicação durante a infância 10 .…”

“…Estudos afirmam que é possível promover a prevenção dita Primária, implementada antes da ocorrência do agravo, prevendo a aplicação dos conceitos e estratégias de Promoção de Saúde e Prevenção Específica [19][20][21] . Neste caso, a promoção de saúde está vinculada à educação em saúde em âmbito familiar, além da formação direcionada para profissionais cuidadores e educadores, o que é de suma importância 20,22 .…”