Common Household poisonings in children- A Preventable Condition

7/28/2019 Common Household poisonings in children- A Preventable Condition

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Common Household poisonings in children- A Preventable

Condition

Dr Bharat Choudhary

Consultant, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, UCC

Parents often think that home is safest place for children. But there are so many

things in the house for daily use which could be dangerous to children. Inherent

tendency of infants and toddlers to direct the things from hand to mouth increase

the possibility of the same. Over a year in USA, poison center receive 3.6 million

calls of such incident, means every eight second one call, so this is quite clear that

it is not uncommon. For parent information, describing about few such common

household poisons, their effects and methods of prevention.

Common Household poisons-

With increasing number of different chemicals used in home, list of possible

household poisons are also increasing. As said by Paracelsus (Father of toxicology)

that – ‘’All things are poison, and nothing is without poison; only the dose permits

something not to be poisonous.’’ There is long list of chemicals used on day today

basis which can be dangerous for children if taken in significant amount. For

example-Pharmaceuticals (pain killers, antiepiletics, antidiabetics, vitamins, iron

preparations), hydrocarbons (kerosene, petrol, thinner), cleansers, pesticides, rat

killers, cosmetics , plants and much more.

The great majority of such poisonings have no or limited clinical effects. Many of

such children require only observation but a few poisons can kill after ingestion of

very small amounts. Unintentional poisoning can be much more serious following

ingestion of kerosene, caustic agents, herbal remedies, insecticides or herbicides.

Management of symptomatic patients involves supportive care, if available the

administration of antidotes, and the removal of the offending drug from the body.

Common poisonings, their effect and initial management

S.N

O

Poison System

affected

Line of

Treatmen

t

1 Pain killer

( paracetamol)

liver and

biliary

system –

liver

failure

Gastric

lavage, N

acetyl

cystiene

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2 Kerosene Chemical

pneumonit

is with

acute

respiratory

distresssyndrome

Observatio

n , chest x-

ray and

monitoring

3 After shave,

perfumes,

alcohols

CNS and

respiratory

depression

,

hypoglyce

mia

Observatio

n, glucose

monitoring

, IVF

4 Bleach Esophagea

l injury ,acidosis

IVF,

observation

5 Detergents Esophagea

l injuries,

chemical

pneumonit

is

Observatio

n

6 Nail paint

remover

Mucosal

injuries,

respiratory

depression

, CNS

depression

observatio

n

7 Rat Killer Coagulatio

n system

Vit K ,

observatio

n,

coagulatio

n study

8 Camphor CNS

irritant ,

seizures

Gastric

lavage,

antiepilepti

cs,

observatio

n

9 Pesticides

(Organophosphor

Vomiting,

diarrhea,

Gastric

Lavage,



ous) seizures PAM,

hospital

admission

10 Iron Preparations Hepatic

Dysfunctio

n, renal

dysfunctio

n

Gastric

lavage,

Observatio

n,

Deferoximi

ne

Who is at most risk?

Usually toddlers 1-3 years are more prone for such accidents because they are they

are extremely curious and active they tend to put everything in their mouths their

taste buds and sense of smell aren’t developed to warn them that a substance is

dangerous because it tastes or smells awful.

How does it happen?

It happens mostly when this chemical is in use and children started playing around

them unattended. When they are not properly placed after their use and also when

they are not disposed well.

What to do?

If you suspect your child has eaten something which is not to be eaten then

- Don’t wait for your child to be more sick

- Don’t panic, remain calm.

- Nearest Urgent Care Hospital - 1800–208-1188 ( Toll Free)

- Call National Poisoning center (AIIMS Poison cell) 26593677, 26589391,

26583282

Trained professionals will answer your queries, and help to determine the

seriousness of a poisoning, and give specific advice on how to deal with the

incident. While talking to these centers please be ready to answer common

questions like -

• The age and weight of the child, since toxicity usually is based on these

factors

• When the child was exposed

• How much the child ate, drank, or spilled



• The child’s general health status

• Whether the child has any signs or symptoms

• What actions have already been taken

• Keep the container near you and read out the content ( either exact brand

name, or active ingredient)

• This information is very vital in assisting you and providing proper medical

advice.

Don’t DO’s for parents

• If any child accidently taken some household poison and swallowed, the most

common mistake parent does is putting fingers in the mouth and try to

extract it or make the child vomit. This is very dangerous practice; it does

more harm than benefit. This will may lead to pushing the solid object more

deeper may be in respiratory tract or if vomiting happens that may increase

the chance of aspiration and further complications ,and if fingers goes more

deeper it can injure oral mucosa also. So attempt to remove the poison

should only be done if it is solid and not deep into oral cavity and can be

easily removed by fingers.

• Do not give anything by mouth unless advised

How to prevent such Mishappening?

Prevention of such incident can be done by proper storage, use and disposal of these harmful chemicals. Even after taking all the precaution such incidents do

happen, so parents should know basic first aid and how to access the poison center.

(write to [email protected] if you want to learn first aid )

Following are the basic steps to avoid such incident-

Store toxic products out of reach of children

Medications, Pesticides, house cleansers and other toxic substances should be kept

in shelves at least six feet and above.

Keep products in their original containers

Do not keep medications, chemicals, house cleansers, pesticides in food or

beverage container or vice versa. This commonly happen at home, that after

medicine or chemical got over they use empty container for storing other

substances or liquids which other person or children does not know and leads to

unintentional poisoning.



Keep labels on containers

Label all the containers with name of the product they contain presently and

remove the old labels if you are using the container for storing other substance then

it was containing originally.

Never combine products

Do not mix household cleansers together because certain combinations can be

explosive or can produce toxic fumes.

• Never give medication to children meant for adult.

• Be aware of all kind of medication used in home

• Never refer medication as candy or taste like candy to children

•

Always put medications away immediately after use, out of reach and sight,preferably locked away.

• Ensure the cap’s child resistant closure is working correctly after each use.

• Use wax block rat baits, preferably those enclosed in plastic bait stations.

• Don’t leave brushes to soak in mineral turpentine. Clean them immediately or

keep them out of sight and reach of children until you can clean them

properly.

• Educate your children about the potential harm of common household

substances

So to summarize, unintentional household poisonings are common but preventable

and if taken appropriate steps timely serious and long term complications can

avoided.

For more blogs and write ups like this visit www.urgentcare.co.in



Common Household poisonings in children- A Preventable Condition

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