Children poisonings

The pancreatic effects may well have been secondary to the diazinon-induced cholinergic manifestations (Dagli et al. 1981). Acute pancreatitis was also found in two children poisoned with diazinon (Weizman and Sofer 1992). 

Endocrine Effects. A 16-year-old female who drank an estimated 10 mL of a diazinon formulation (Tik-20) developed pancreatitis after being treated for cholinergic manifestations. The concentration of diazinon in the liquid was not reported so a dose could not be calculated. The pancreatic effects may well have been secondary to the diazinon-induced cholinergic manifestations (Dagli et al. 1981). Acute pancreatitis was also found in two children poisoned with diazinon (Weizman and Sofer 1992). 

Both accidental and intentional overdose are relatively frequent and pose difficult management problems. Particular concern has been expressed for children, either because they gain access to parents tablets or have been treated for enuresis. During one year a Melbourne hospital admitted 35 children poisoned with tricyclic antidepressants (147). In 1979 it was reported that tricyclic antidepressants had replaced salicylates as the most common cause of accidental death in English children under the age of five. Concern was expressed about this (148), and Swiss federal statistics raised similar worries (149). 

Mercury s harmful effects that may be passed from the mother to the fetus include brain damage, mental retardation, incoordination, blindness, seizures, and inability to speak. Children poisoned by mercury may develop problems of their nervous and digestive systems, and kidney damage. 

This interaction has been deliberately exploited, with success, in the treatment of 22 children poisoned with various amfetamines or related compounds (amfetamine, dexamfetamine, metamfetamine, phenmetrazine). ... 

Watson and his colleagues examined 50 autopsy reports of children poisoned with Impila [17]. Upon presentation to hospital, 80 % of patients showed a disturbed level of consciousness (confusion, stupor, or coma), and in 52 %, this was associated with convulsions. Other conmum symptoms included abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Hypoglycemia (blood glucose <2.5 mmol/L) was found in 93 % of cases, metabolic acidosis (serum bicarbonate <19 nunol/L) in 87 %, uremia (elevated blood urea >6.64 mmoI/L) in 60 %, hyperkalemia (serum potassium >5.3 mmol/L) in 63 %, hyponatremia (serum sodium <130 nunoI/L) in 45 %, and leukocytosis (total white cell count >11 x 10 /L) in 80 %. In patients who survived more than 24 h, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) were elevated up to 5—10 times the normal levels, and the prothrombin time was elevated up to 50 % of upper limit of normal. In all cases documented to date, concomitant jaundice has rarely been observed in the patients with hepatotoxicity, and the progression to death was very rapid. 

Some medical researchers believe, to a reasonable medical and scientific certainty, that the effects of lead on the brain are permanent and irreversible, and they seem to worsen with time. This is reflected not only in lower intelligence quotient scores, but in a decreased ability to function in every day life. There is growing evidence that children exposed to lead have attention deficit disorder and are hyperactive. Although only about 3% of children generally suffer attention deficit disorder, 55% of children poisoned by lead paint display signs of this disorder. Such children are at high risk for aggressive and antisocial behavior in later life. 

Iron is widely used in over-the-counter vitamin preparations and is a leading cause of childhood poisoning deaths. As few as 10-12 prenatal multivitamins with iron may cause serious illness in a small child. Poisoning with other metals (lead, mercury, arsenic) is also important, especially in industry. See Chapters 33, 56, and 57 for detailed discussions of poisoning by iron and other metals. 

There is an argument that a child who is poisoned as an infant is more likely to recover more completely than a child poisoned at 4 or 5 because the brain is more resilient in infancy. The difference between the effect of lead on the brain of an infant and that of an older child can be illustrated by a comparison between the effects of a bull in a china shop and one in a pottery studio. If the china is thrown around and broken, it s much more difficult to fix than... 

Durand MF, Pommier P, Chazalette A, de Haro L (2008) Child poisoning after ingestion of a wild apiaceae a case report. Arch Pediatr 15 139-141... 

Because small children may suck on matches, the question of toxicity is often raised and the lingering, vague, though unwarranted idea of phosphoms poisoning may cause concern to laymen and even to physicians. Potassium chlorate is the only active material that can be extracted in more than traces from a match head and only 9 mg are contained in one head. This, even multiphed by the content of a whole book, is far below any toxic amount (19) for even a small child. No poisonous properties whatsoever can be imputed to the striking strip. SAW matches are similarly harmless but, because of their easy flammabihty, they should be entirely kept out of a household with smaller children. The same warning may apply to all wooden matches. 

Under the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970, any product that, if consumed by a child, could result in harm to the child must be packaged using components difficult for a child to open. This is referred to as child-resistant packaging. 

Lead is a poisonous metal that especially affects children because they retain a larger fraction of lead than adults da Lead levels of0.250 ppm in a child cause delayed cognitive development How many moles of lead present in 1.00 g of a child s blood would 0.250 ppm represent ... 

Reebok, Ltd. (2006) Reebok Recalls Bracelet Linked to Child s Lead Poisoning Death. [Online-cited 24 April 2007] Available from URL http //www.reebok.com/Static/useng/Initiatives/Recall/ Recall 0323.htm... 

In 1970 the Poison Prevention Packaging Act was passed. It provides for packaging designed and constructed to be difficult for young children to open within a reasonable time and that is not difficult for adults to use properly. Establishing child-resistance effectiveness in a flexible unitized package is considerably more complex and, in certain circumstances, more difficult than doing so with a child-resistant cap on a bottle [21]. 

Amitai Y, Graef JW, Brown MJ, et al. 1987. Hazards of deleading homes of children with lead poisoning. Am J Dis Child 141 758-760. 

Chisolm JJ Jr, Harrison HC, Eberlein WR, et al. 1955. Aminoaciduria, hypophosphatemia, and rickets in lead poisoning Study of a case. Am J Dis Child 89 159-168. 

Even children are not immune from poisoning by PCP. Six cases were observed at the UCLA Medical Center, all 5 years old or younger. Presumably, most were poisoned by accidental ingestion of the drug, which was available in the house one child, only 11 days old, was presumably poisoned by passive inhalation of the smoke produced by the adults around him. The most common clinical manifestations in these youngsters was bizarre behavior, lethargy, ataxia, and nystagmus (48). 

As a child growing up in Portland, Oregon, she sometimes suffered from eczema and was prone to react to poison oak. Other than that, she was a healthy child, the oldest of five. Terri has a daughter who is seven years old. Without a trace of anger, fear or bitterness in her voice, she told me her story over a cup of tea in the CyberCafe bookstore on Whidbey Island. 

If a pregnant woman is affected by mercury poisoning, the consequences may affect the child. As a result, the child may suffer from profound mental deficiency, atrophy of cerebral cortex, commisure and cerebellum neuron destruction. Acrodynia is a syndrome that affects children exposed to organic and inorganic mercury compounds. Symptoms include itchy, measles-like rash followed by desquamation of palm and foot skin, essential tachycardia, generalized swellings, hypertension and salivation (Harada, 1995). 

You and your children can be exposed to 1,4-di chlorobenzene in your home if you use products such as 1,4-dichlorobenzene-treated toilet bowl cleaners or mothballs containing 1,4-dichlorobenzene. You should not let your child play with or drink toilet bowl water that has been treated with 1,4-di chlorobenzene. Do not let your children rub mothballs or cleaners containing 1,4-di chlorobenzene on their skin. Because 1,4-di chlorobenzene may be found in the home as a pesticide and bathroom deodorizer and in mothballs, these items should be stored out of reach of young children to prevent accidental poisonings. Always store household chemicals in their original labeled containers never store household chemicals in containers children would find attractive to eat or drink from, such as old soda bottles. Keep your Poison Control Center s number by the phone. 

Felsenstein WC, Staiff DC, Miller GC. 1976. Acute demeton poisoning in a child. Arch Environ Health 31(5) 266-269. 

The child pictured in Figure 1.1 working in a lead battery recycling factory in Bangladesh illustrates the global implications of toxicology. This child will suffer from the effects of lead poisoning for a lifetime and will not be able to reach his intellectual potential. 

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