Common pediatric poisoning (drugs, household chemicals)
1. Big picture
Pediatric poisoning is a time-critical emergency topic because children may deteriorate quickly from airway obstruction, respiratory depression, seizures, shock, arrhythmias, hypoglycemia, metabolic acidosis, or corrosive injury.
Most poisonings are:
Toddler → accidental ingestion at home
Adolescent → intentional overdose / self-harm until proven otherwise
Core oral-exam sentence: “In suspected pediatric poisoning, management starts with ABCDE stabilization and glucose check, not with identifying the toxin. Then we remove exposure, prevent absorption when appropriate, give specific antidotes when indicated, monitor for complications, and assess safety/psychiatric risk.”
2. Definition
Poisoning is exposure to a drug, chemical, plant, gas, or toxin in a dose or route capable of causing harm.
In pediatrics, poisoning may be:
| Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Accidental | Toddler drinks household cleaner |
| Therapeutic error | Wrong dose of paracetamol/ibuprofen |
| Intentional | Adolescent overdose |
| Environmental | Carbon monoxide exposure |
| Iatrogenic | Medication dosing error |
| Non-accidental | Poisoning as child abuse |
3. Epidemiology and risk context
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