TY - JOUR PY - 2015// TI - Characteristics of children with acute carbon monoxide poisoning in Ankara: a single centre experience JO - Journal of Korean medical science A1 - Unsal Sac, Rukiye A1 - Taşar, Medine Ayşin A1 - Bostanci, Ilknur A1 - Şimşek, Yurda A1 - Bilge Dallar, Yıldız SP - 1836 EP - 1840 VL - 30 IS - 12 N2 - 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.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 1011-8934 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2015.30.12.1836 ID - ref1 ER -