title: Unintentional insecticide poisoning by age: an analysis of Queensland Poisons Information Centre calls.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Data from the Queensland Poisons Information Centre (QPIC) was assessed to determine mechanisms of acute insecticide poisoning in young children (<5 years) and whether age affects insecticide-poisoning patterns.
  
  
  METHODS
  Records of all insecticide-related calls placed to QPIC in 2014 were obtained. A stratified analysis of call patterns by age was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 743 insecticide-related calls received by QPIC 364 (49.0%) were for young children. The number of calls peaked in children aged one. Ant and cockroach baits accounted for 39.0% of calls. Sprays, which were found to contain not only pyrethroids, pyrethrins and/or piperonly butoxide but also the organophosphate diazinon, accounted for 25.8% of calls. Mouthing or ingesting a pest-control product and consuming an item/insect after treatment were common mechanisms for children under the age of two. Topical exposure to sprays, via direct application, typically by the child or an older sibling, peaked in children aged two. In 12.3% of calls medical attention for the child was already sought or advised by QPIC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Normal behaviours associated with child development, particularly mouthing behaviours, explained the peak of exposure in one-year-olds. This finding should guide strategies to minimise poisonings in this vulnerable population.
authors.affiliation: Children's Health and Environment Program, Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute. karin.english@uqconnect.edu.au.|UQ Child Health Research Centre, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland. karin.english@uqconnect.edu.au.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: English
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, The University of Queensland.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jagals
authors.affiliation: UQ Child Health Research Centre, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland.|School of Public Health, The University of Queensland.
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Ware
authors.affiliation: Queensland Poisons Information Centre, Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wylie
authors.affiliation: Children's Health and Environment Program, Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute.|UQ Child Health Research Centre, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland.
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Sly
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000506:poisoning; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007253:Information Centers; D007306:Insecticides / Q000506:poisoning*; D011793:Queensland
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007306:Insecticides
keywords: borates; children; fipronil; indoxacarb; organophosphate; pyrethroid