title: Characteristics of Children with Acute Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Ankara: A Single Centre Experience.
abstract: The purpose of the study was to define characteristics of children with acute carbon monoxide poisoning. Eighty children hospitalized with acute carbon monoxide poisoning were recruited prospectively over a period of 12 months. Sociodemographic features, complaints and laboratory data were recorded. When the patient was discharged, necessary preventive measures to be taken were explained to parents. One month later, the parents were questioned during a control examination regarding the precautions that they took. The ages of the cases were between one month and 16 yr. Education levels were low in 86.2% of mothers and 52.6% of fathers. All families had low income and 48.8% did not have formal housing. The source of the acute carbon monoxide poisoning was stoves in 71.2% of cases and hot-water heaters in 28.8% of cases. Three or more people were poisoned at home in 85.1% of the cases. The most frequent symptoms of poisoning were headache and vertigo (58.8%). Median carboxyhemoglobin levels at admission to the hospital and discharge were measured as 19.5% and 1.1% (P < 0.001). When families were called for re-evaluation, it was determined that most of them had taken the necessary precautions after the poisoning incident (86.3%). This study determined that children with acute childhood carbon monoxide poisoning are usually from families with low socioeconomic and education levels. Education about prevention should be provided to all people who are at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning before a poisoning incident occurs.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Pediatrics Clinic, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Rukiye
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Unsal Sac
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Pediatrics Clinic, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Medine Ayşin
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4367-725X
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Taşar
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Dr. Sami Ulus Women's and Children's Health and Research Teaching Hospital, Department of Pediatric Allergy and Asthma, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: İlknur
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Bostancı
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Pediatrics Clinic, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yurda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Şimşek
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Pediatrics Clinic, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yıldız
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bilge Dallar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055502:Secondary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014421:Turkey
keywords: Ankara; Carbon Monoxide; Child; Education; Poisoning; Prevention