title: [Analysis of data from Poison Control Centers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for use in public health activities].
abstract: Health information systems should be sources of reliable and valid data that can be used for surveillance to reduce morbidity and mortality. Unintentional poisoning is highly relevant to public health, since it is the most frequent cause of emergency pediatric care. Information on such events is recorded in Poison Control Centers (PCCs). The current study analyzed the records on unintentional poisoning with household cleaning products in two PCCs in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2000-2002. The variables analyzed were gender, age, cause of the accident, exposure route, toxic agent, and outcome. In the 2,810 records studied, boys four years and younger were the most vulnerable group and oral ingestion was the most common exposure route. However, analysis of the data on the toxic agent, cause, and outcome showed that the data currently recorded in the PCCs are inconsistent. It is necessary to review the definitions used by the PCCs in order for the resulting data to effectively support public health measures and health surveillance policies.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Controle de Qualidade em Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. rosaura.presgrave@incqs.fiocruz.br
authors.forename: Rosaura de Farias
authors.initials: Rde F
authors.lastname: Presgrave
authors.forename: Luiz Antônio Bastos
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Camacho
authors.forename: Maria Helena Simões
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Villas Boas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007256:Information Systems / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011039:Poison Control Centers / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011786:Quality Control; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult