Skip to main content

Children poisoning in Taiwan

The Indian Journal of Pediatrics volume 64, pages 469–483 (1997)Cite this article

Abstract

Poisoning is a well known cause of morbidity and mortality in children. In Taiwan, little information has been published regarding the status of pediatric poisoning exposures. To provide more information on pediatric poisoning exposures for the purpose of poison prevention, a retrospective study was designed and conducted to analyse the data of National Poison Centre (NPC), Taiwan. All telephone inquiries concerning poisoning exposures in those under 19 years of age, received by NPC-Taiwan from July 1985 through December 1993, were included in this study. The age, sex, reason for exposure, route of exposure, substances involved and clinical outcome of those telephone calls were then analyzed. A total of 5,812 inquiries concerning poisoning exposures in children were recorded. Male exposures were more prevalent than females (59%)Vs. 41%) Accidental exposures accounted for 77.7% of the cases and most were exposed by the oral route. Substances most frequently ingested were household products, benzodiazepines and pesticides. The data revealed a mortality rate of 1.4%.

Accidental poisoning exposures from household products and drugs remain a significant problem for those younger than 6 years of age. Further education of parents and care takers and the employment of child-resistant containers are needed to prevent cases of pediatric poisoning. Reduction of amphetamine abuse in adolescents is also of major concern and deserves more attention.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  1. Mannaioni PF. Pattern of acute intoxication in florence — a comparative investigation.Intensive Care Med 1991; 17: S24–31.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Marchi AG, Messi G, Loschi L. Evaluation of changing patterns in children poisoning and prevention.Vet Hum Toxicol 1991; 33: 244–246.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Litovitz TL, Clark LR, Soloway RN. 1993 Annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System.Am J Emerg Med 1994; 12: 546–584.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Deeths TM, Breeden JT. Poisoning in children-a statistical study of 1,057 cases.J Pediatr 1971; 78: 299–305.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Scherz RG. The management of accidental childhood poisoning.Pediatrics 1974; 54: 323–324.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Scherz RG. Prevention of childhood poisoning — a community project.Pediatr Clin North Am 1970; 17: 713–727.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Ger J, Deng JF, Chung HMet al. A comparison of poison control centre data between Taiwan and USA.Vet Hum Toxicol 1991; 33: 380.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Tabulations of 1979 Poison Control Case Reports. Rockville, MD, National cleaning house for poison control centers, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health, Education and Welfare, August 1981.

  9. Walton WW. An evaluation of the poison prevention packaging act.Pediatrics 1982; 69: 363–370.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Pinar A, Fowler J, Bond GR. Acute poisoning in Izmir, Turkey — a pilot epidemiologic study.J Toxicol 1993; 31: 593–601.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Jackson RH, Wilkinson AW. Why don’t we prevent childhood accidents?Br Med J 1976; 1:1258.

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Clarke A, Walton WW. Effect of safety packaging on aspirin ingestion by children.Pediatrics 1979; 63: 687–693.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Klerman GL. Clinical epidemiology of suicide.Clin Psychiatry 1987; 48 Suppl: 33–38.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Lawson GR, Craft AW, Jackson RH. Changing pattern of poisoning in children in Newcastle, 1974–1981.Br Med J Clin Res Ed 1983; 287: 15–17.

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Weissman MM, Conn NH. The epidemiology of suicide attempts, 1960–1971.Arch Gen Psychiatry 1974; 30: 373–746.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Holinger PC, Offer D. Prediction of adolescent suicide — a population model.Am J Psychiatry 1982; 139: 302–306.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Sobel R. The psychiatric implications of accidental poisoning in childhood.Pediatr Clin North Am 1970; 17: 653–685.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Rodgers GC. The role of aversive bittering agents in the prevention of pediatric poisoning.Pediatrics 1994; 93: 68–69.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Masini E, Fantozzi R, Blandina Pet al. Epidemiological survey of intoxications in florence in the last ten years.J Toxicol 1981; 18: 1157–1162.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. The 1993 Annual Report of the Ministry of Justice, Executive Yuan, Taiwan, R.O.C.

  21. Yang CC, Hung SC, Sa CH, Chen SS, Deng JF. Epidemiological data of human poisoning in Taiwan.Epidemiology Bulletin (R.O.C.) 1995; 11: 81–98.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Eade NR, Taussig LM, Marks ML. Hydrocarbon pneumonitis.Pediatric 1974; 54: 551–357.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Chafee-Bahamon C, Lovejoy FH. Effectiveness of a regional poison centre in reducing excess emergency room visits for children’s poisoning.Pediatrics 1983; 72: 164–169.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Division of Clinical Toxicology, Department of Medicine, Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.

    Cheng Chang Yang M.D., Hsin-Chen Ong, Yih-Pyng Kuo, Jou-Fang Deng & Jiin Ger

  2. National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan, R.O.C.

    Cheng Chang Yang M.D., Jia-Fen Wu, Yih-Pyng Kuo, Jou-Fang Deng & Jiin Ger

Authors
  1. Cheng Chang Yang M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jia-Fen Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hsin-Chen Ong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yih-Pyng Kuo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jou-Fang Deng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jiin Ger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yang, C.C., Wu, JF., Ong, HC. et al. Children poisoning in Taiwan. Indian J Pediatr 64, 469–483 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02737751

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02737751

Key words

  • Pediatric poisoning
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Amphetamine abuse