Intentional poisonings in children below 15 years of age in the city of Lodz.
Data on self poisonings in children < l5 y of age from all over Poland are not available. An analysis of intentional poisonings among juveniles < 15 y of age in the city of Lodz in 1991-1995 was done. Intentional poisonings accounted for over 14% of total poisonings in children < 15 y of age. Self-poisonings in 9-11 and 12-15 y old, accounted for 5.2% and 86.8%, respectively, of the total juvenile intentional poisonings. They were more frequent in girls (80.8%) than boys (19.2%). Drugs were the most common agents (93%), of which 56% were sleep-inducing and psychotropic drugs. The dominating reasons for attempts were family and school problems, and impaired social relations. The high number of these poisonings indicates impaired parent-child relationship and resulting difficulties in social adaptation. The wide use of sleep-inducing and psychotropic drugs by adults makes these medicines more accessible.
National Poison Information Centre, Department of Scientific Information, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland.
Malgorzata
M
Kotwica
Slawomir
S
Czerczak
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D062787:Drug Overdose; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000506:poisoning; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000506:poisoning; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012919:Social Behavior; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs