General information
Poisoning (intoxication) is a dangerous emergency situation for children. While it is often not possible to find out which drugs or remedies have been taken in small children who have, for example, reached their parents’ medicine cabinet, alcohol intoxication is the most common emergency situation in larger children and adolescents.
Symptoms
Poisonings in the child occur frequently at the age of 1-4 years and are preferably observed in boys. About 1000 cases per year in Germany are life-threatening for the affected children and about 20 have a fatal outcome. In most cases of poisoning, only slightly pronounced symptoms are noticeable, if at all.
The symptoms that occur during poisoning can vary greatly depending on the substance ingested. Above all, disorders of the central nervous system in the form of changes in consciousness, newly occurring behavioural disorders or changes in the child’s gait pattern and motor skills can indicate incipient or, if pronounced, advanced intoxication. The first signs in children are often nausea, indisposition, vomiting or diarrhoea.
In addition, in many cases an increased sweat or saliva flow, accompanied by increased excitability, can occur. In addition, the most common symptoms include disturbances of the cardiovascular system, such as an increase or decrease in respiratory or heart rate. In particularly severe cases, the affected child may experience shock symptoms with acute respiratory arrest.
The skin may also change as a result of poisoning. These include new skin rashes or hair loss. In many children, changes in the pupils or disturbances in vision can also be observed. It should be noted that many poisonings initially proceed completely without symptoms and can only cause the first specific abnormalities after 24 to 48 hours. Therefore, if there is a strong suspicion of poisoning in children, consistent monitoring is absolutely necessary.
Emergency number
If children are suspected of being acutely poisoned, the emergency doctor should be alerted so that sufficient maintenance of the child’s circulation can be ensured. In addition, contact is made with the poison control center. The nationwide telephone number is composed of the area code plus 19240. Here it should be possible to give exact information about the age, the current clinical condition, the presumably ingested substance, the amount, as well as the time and the route of ingestion of the substance, so that a sufficient and comprehensive recommendation and procedure can be given.