Epidemiology of accidental poisoning in children.
A recent national study of accidents to Australian children has shown that poisoning is a major cause of morbidity. However, the development of preventive strategies is hampered by the lack of detailed epidemiological studies of the problem. I report the results of a detailed study of cases of poisoning among children attending the Casualty Department of the Adelaide Children's Hospital. They indicate at-risk groups which are in need of specific preventive programmes. I stress the need to educate parents, and argue that hospitals have an important role to play in this process.
D001315:Australia; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015022:Yugoslavia / Q000208:ethnology