title: [Accidental poisoning among children and adolescents in a county in southern Brazil].
abstract: This study analyzes the characteristics of accidental poisoning among children and young adolescents (< 15 years) in Londrina, Paraná State, Brazil, in 2001. Data were obtained from patient records in general hospitals, the local Poison Control Center, and the municipal Mortality Information Center. There were 473 cases of poisoning, with an incidence rate of 339.8 per 100,000, 58.5% due to poisonous substances and 39% due to venomous animals and plants. Increased risk was observed in the 1-3-year age group, due to poisonous substances. Medications (47.5%), pesticides (14.1%), and cleaning products (11.3%) were the main substances involved (284 cases), and 17.2% of children were hospitalized. Among 189 cases of contact with venomous animals and plants, caterpillars (29.1%), bees (25.9%), and spiders (22.8%) were the main agents, with a 1.1% hospitalization rate. Incidence of poisoning is high, and there are important differences in the types of agents involved according to age group, which may help orient the prevention of such accidents.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Rua Chile 185, Apto. 103, Londrina, PR 86010-220, Brazil. leocris2001@aol.com
authors.forename: Christine Baccarat de Godoy
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Selma Maffei
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.forename: Priscila Aparecida Batista
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: de Paiva
mesh_terms: D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D011039:Poison Control Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population