Children are naturally curious and may accidentally ingest poisonous substances found in the home. Common causes of poisoning in children include household products like kerosene, drugs, chemicals, and pesticides. Signs of poisoning can include an acute onset of symptoms in an otherwise healthy child, unexplained involvement of multiple body systems, and conditions like metabolic acidosis, acute renal or liver failure, or arrhythmias without a known heart condition. Clues to the specific toxin ingested may include features like changes in heart rate, breathing rate, temperature, skin appearance, sweating, blood pressure, pupil size, movement coordination, paralysis, spasms, diarrhea, or jaundice.

1. POISONING IN
CHILDREN

2. Definition of poison,
toxin, venoms.
Introduction and
diagnosis with clues

3. Poison:
A substance(solid,liquid or gas),
which if introduced in the living body, or
brought into contact to a part therefore,
will produce ill health or death, by its
constitutional or local effects or both.

4. Toxins:
Poisons produced by a natural
biological process.
Venom:
Toxins that are injected by a bite
or sting to cause their effect.

5. Poisoning in children
Children are curious and explore their
world with all their senses, including taste. As a
result, the home and its surroundings can be a
dangerous place where poisonous substances are
inadvertently ingested.
Common causes of poisoning in children are
household products including kerosene oil, drugs,
chemicals(corrosives) and pesticides.

6. Clues to poisoning in children:
• Acute onset of symptoms in an otherwise
healthy child.
• Unexplained multisystem involvement.
• Metabolic acidosis
• Acute renal failure
• Acute liver failure
• Arrythmias in a child with no known cardiac
illness.

7. Clues to nature of poisoning:

8. Features Toxins
Bradycardia Digitalis,organophosphorus,betablockers,opioids
Tachycardia Atropine,salicylates,amphetamine
Tachypnoea Salicylates,ethylene glycol
Apnea Barbiturates,alcohol,opioids
Hypothermia Barbiturates
Fever Atropine,organophoshphorus,salicylates,theophylline,quinine
Flushed skin Carbon monoxide,cyanide
Cyanosis Methemoglobinemia,carbon monoxide
Diaphoresis Organophosphates,salicylates
Hypertension Phenylpropanolamine, anticholinergics
Miosis Organophosphates,opioids,barbiturates
Mydriasis Atropine,amphetamines,alcohol
Ataxia Phenytoin,alcohol,barbitutares,
anticholinergics
Paralysis Botulism, heavy metals
Spasms Strychinne
Diarrhoea Arsenic
Jaundice Acetaminophen,carbon tetrachloride