Due to the common curiosity in this age group, children between 0 and 10 years old are the ones who become most accidentally poisoned. The highest number of registrations is among those aged 1 to 6 years, according to the Mobile Emergency Care Service (Samu).
In order to avoid these accidents, the Toxicological Information and Assistance Center (CIATox) of the Federal District, a service integrated with Samu, prepared informative material with recommendations for preventing poisoning of babies and children. The booklet has been redesigned and is available on the Department of Health (SES-DF) website. As a complement, the material will also be delivered in print to daycare centers and schools.
According to poisoning data, so far in 2023 there have been 2,771 cases of poisoning, with 37.6% corresponding to cases of children under 10 years of age. In the entire year 2022, there were 3,120 cases.
First among the products most commonly involved in accidental ingestion are medicines, followed by products such as bleach, detergents, soaps, shampoos, soaps, paints, insecticides, rodenticides, hair dyes, lotions, alcoholic beverages and plants. Most accidents coincide with school holidays and end-of-year celebrations.
CIAtox recommends that those responsible pay extra attention, avoid calling medicines ‘candy’ and ‘candy’, and do not leave cleaning products, medicines, cosmetics and insecticides within reach; these items should be stored in high places or closed cupboards. There is also guidance not to use poisons around children and to know the origin and risk of plants.
More dangerous products – such as detergents, bleach and rodenticides – cannot be stored in empty soft drink bottles and jars, much less in the refrigerator. . It is also advisable not to self-medicate in children, as dosage and usage errors may occur.
Some products with a characteristic fruit aroma or colors may be confused with food by children. “At an early age, they cannot differentiate what is toxic or not. The packaging is attractive, full of colors, beautiful and smells like lemon and fruit. There is usually a happy baby on the label and the child does not see it as dangerous”, points out CIAtox doctor, toxicologist Andrea Amoras de Magalhães.
Symptoms
In case of poisoning, the child may have burns or spots around the mouth, strange-smelling breath or breath, profuse salivation or foaming at the mouth, pain or burning in the mouth or throat, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, breathing abnormal, shortness of breath, sweating, intense tremors, agitation or drowsiness.
“Treatment will depend on the severity and what she ingested. Sometimes, you may have leftover medication in your mouth or a substance spilled on your clothes, be drowsy, vomit, or have a seizure. The symptom depends on the toxic product”, adds Magalhães.
As a first step, it is recommended to call CIATox, remove product residues from the mouth or skin, wash with running water and seek assistance at health units, taking the packaging of the product or part of the plant to facilitate identification. “We also provide guidance on what not to do. Many people make the child vomit, or give milk, which is not correct”, warns the doctor.
About the center
CIAtox is made up of a multidisciplinary team of doctors, pharmacists and nurses specializing in toxicology. In addition to teleservice, it has its own outpatient clinic to treat and monitor chronic cases of workers who handle toxic products. Consultations are weekly and require scheduling, carried out by the patient undergoing treatment or by public or private health centers.
The CIAtox 0800 number serves outside the DF as it is part of a network of centers in Brazil. There are 34 spread across 19 states in the country and the number is on product labels sold nationally. The Intoxication Hotline is a number managed by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) that contacts the center closest to the applicant.
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