Poisoning in children is when a poisonous substance enters the body in a harmful amount through various means (mouth, skin, etc.) and causes some negative signs and symptoms in the body. These may include life-threatening situations. Poisonings in our country; It is the 4th type of accident after traffic accidents, falls and burns, and the preschool age is the age group where it is most frequently seen. Childhood poisonings are most common in children under the age of 6 (80%). Approximately 40% of this is seen under the age of 2. It should be noted that poisoning is the fault of the parents, not the child.
Poisonous substances can enter the body through breathing, digestion and skin. Poisoning may occur as soon as a few hours after ingestion, or after long-term exposure (3 months or more). If we count the substances that cause poisoning, expired or spoiled foods, medicines, cleaning materials (bleach, salt spirit, etc.), insect and animal bites, food additives, environmental pollutants (exhaust, pesticides, etc.), stove. smoke (carbon monoxide poisoning), mushrooms, and poisonous herbs are the substances that cause poisoning in children.
The majority of poisonings in children occur as a result of accidents. The conclusion we can draw from this is that children become poisoned as a result of eating, drinking and smelling new substances out of curiosity, and this occurs because parents do not take precautions. Children rummage through the drawers at home and reach even places they cannot reach by using items in the house (sometimes with great creativity, such as using drawers as stairs). They are very curious about everything and have no idea what could harm them. Poisonous substances and medicines should not be kept around, they should be kept out of reach of children and, if possible, in a locked place. Substances such as thinner or bleach should never be placed in a water or other beverage bottle, medicines should not be given to the child as candy, medicines should not be consumed in the presence of the child, it should not be forgotten that children imitate, children should be closely supervised when playing outside, they should not be allowed to play near garbage, insects (ticks) should be avoided in picnic areas. etc.) and animal bites such as snakes Care should be taken against wounds.
What are the symptoms of poisoning and what should be done;
The child's general condition deteriorates rapidly. Fever, diarrhea, vomiting or constipation, hypotension (low blood pressure), excessive sweating, dry mouth, excessive drooling from the mouth, visual impairment, convulsions, confusion or loss of consciousness, shortness of breath, heart rhythm disturbances, chest pain, urinary incontinence or urination. Symptoms such as the inability to do anything may develop.
If the child is unconscious, first he is laid on his side and checked to see if there is anything in his mouth and whether his tongue is behind. Call 112 emergency and 114 poison control immediately. If there is respiratory distress, the airway is opened first. If we suspect that there is a foreign body in the respiratory tract, if the child is small, the child is laid on his knee with his head down and his back is tapped several times in the middle of the two shoulder blades. Heimlich maneuver is applied to older children. If there is no breathing, artificial respiration and heart massage should be applied. If the poisoning occurred through inhalation due to a coal stove or insecticide, the patient should be removed from that environment. If a caustic substance such as bleach, vitriol, or hydrocarbon substances such as kerosene, gasoline, thinner has been taken orally, the child should not be made to vomit under any circumstances. This increases the destructive effect of the substance in the stomach, pharynx, oral cavity, lungs. Additionally, if the patient is unconscious, vomiting should not be induced as vomit may enter the lungs. A child who has taken medication and is conscious can be induced to vomit. Milk and yoghurt should not be given as they may increase the mixing of poison into the blood or increase the effects of caustic substances such as bleach. If the poisonous substance gets on the skin (such as insecticide), the clothes are taken off, the body is washed with plenty of water and soap with gloves. If the eyes are dirty, they are washed only with plenty of water.
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