Poisoning

In general

Young children often put things in their mouths in order to learn about them.

In most homes, there are a number of substances that are toxic or injurious to health and which can even be life-threatening to children if they are ingested.

These hazardous substances include medicines, cleaning products, petroleum products, nicotine, and poisonous plants.

• Medicines may be toxic to children, especially in large quantities. If a 2-year-old child consumes ten iron tablets, for example, this can lead to serious poisoning. Lots of pills and liquid medicines taste nice to the child. This means that children often will eat or drink medicines that they find. Even medicines that are relatively safe for adults, such as the common pain reliever acetaminophen, may be extremely hazardous to children in the event of an overdose. 

• Your home probably contains a number of corrosive products that may be hazardous to your child. Such items include acid, lye, dish-washer detergent, ammonia, chlorine and plastic resin hardeners. If your child swallows corrosive substances, this can lead to serious damage to the mucous membranes lining the throat and esophagus. Lye injuries are often deeper and more serious than acid injuries. The injuries can continue to worsen over a period of several days. Inhaling acid or lye can damage the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. Splashes on the skin result in injuries similar to burn injuries, while splashes in the eyes can lead to serious eye injuries. 

• Another group of toxic substances are petroleum products. Examples of this are various substances made from crude oil, for example gasoline, diesel oil, mineral spirits, lamp oil, heating oil, paraffin, barbeque lighter fluid, oil-based paint, shoe polish, furniture polish, and anti-corrosive agents. Swallowing such substances results in a serious risk of injury especially to the respiratory tract. 

• If the child finds cigarettes or other tobacco products and eats them, the child can be severely poisoned and may even suffer life-threatening injuries. Ingestion of tobacco often leads to irritation of the mucous membrane of the stomach, which may result in vomiting. Fortunately, this often will bring up most of the tobacco, decreasing the amount that gets into the child's body. A child who has ingested ½ a cigarette or less generally will not show symptoms. If the child consumes ½ - 1 cigarette, this often will result in nausea and vomiting. Dangerous doses of nicotine are consumption of 1-2 cigarettes, 3-4 cigarette butts, one cigar butt, or 1-2 pieces of chewing tobacco. If your child has ingested this, you must immediately seek medical advice. 

• Alcoholic beverages can be extremely toxic to children, even in small doses. Remember that many common household products contain significant amounts of alcohol (mouthwash, after-shave lotion, cold medicines, nail polish remover). 

• A range of different plants, including wild plants, yard plants and houseplants, may be toxic to a child who eats them or comes into contact with them. Try to learn to recognize some of the most common of these poisonous plants. You can learn about such plants in brochures available from pharmacies, or you can read about them on the Internet .

Home treatment

• Remove any remnants of medicine or plant matter, etc., from the child's mouth. 

• For eye injuries caused by splashes, start by flushing with a gentle stream of water for at least 20 minutes. The water should be at room temperature. Flushing will dilute and remove the corrosive substance; it will also have the effect of relieving the pain until you get to the eye specialist. 

• Any damage to the skin should be treated as burn injuries. Soiled clothing must be removed promptly. Flush with plenty of water at room temperature, ideally for 30 minutes. You could also put the child in the bath tub. Continue flushing while on the way to the doctor. 

• With inhalation injuries, the most important thing is to bring the child out into the fresh air. Call the doctor immediately if the child has breathing difficulties. 

• If you suspect your child has ingested something toxic, you should contact the National Poison Control Center hotline at 1-800-222-1222. This number will automatically put you through to the nearest local Poison Control Center. 

• On the telephone, it is important to give as much information as possible about the exposure. Have the bottle or package available to answer questions when talking to the Poison Control Center. 

 The following information is important: - WHAT has been swallowed: Exact name of the product / medicine; give the name of the manufacturer if it is included. - HOW MUCH the child has ingested: the quantity swallowed, spilt on the skin, etc. - WHEN it happened: the time of the accident and when you discovered what had happened - HOW your child is: whether your child shows symptoms or signs of poisoning; describe the area on your child that is affected - AGE and WEIGHT: The age and weight of the child 

• Follow the instructions given you by the Poison Control Center. 

• If the child is unconscious, or on the verge of unconsciousness, do not try to induce vomiting. This could lead to aspiration, and the stomach contents could get into the child's lungs. Check whether the child is breathing. If the child is breathing, but is unconscious, lay the child on his/her side and clear the air passages. Start mouth-to-mouth resuscitation if the child is not breathing or is not breathing sufficiently.

When to seek medical advice

See the doctor immediately or call 911 if:

• The child suddenly appears confused, distant or drowsy, for no apparent reason. This could be a sign of poisoning in young children. 
• The child has convulsions or seizures. 
• The child has breathing difficulties and a cough that starts suddenly. 
• The child vomits and complains of stomach pains, and you suspect an ingestion. 
• The child is unconscious.