TY - JOUR PY - 2008// TI - Exogenic poisoning in children assisted in a pediatric emergency unit JO - Acta paulista de enfermagem A1 - Furtado, Betise Mery Alencar A1 - Lourenço, J A1 - Bonfim, Cristine SP - 282 EP - 282 VL - 21 IS - 2 N2 -

Objective: To describe the epidemiological characteristics of all exogenic poisoning cases in children assisted in a pediatric emergency unit in Recife, State of Pernambuco, Brazil, from April to September 2006. Methods: This is a descriptive study of exogenic poisoning in 0-12 aged children treated at Centro de Assistência Toxicológica de Pernambuco (Pernambuco Toxicological Assistance Center). The data were collected through interviews and by consulting patients’ records. Results: 26 cases of accidental exogenic poisoning were registered, mainly males (65.4%). Regarding age, children under five years old were the most affected (65.4%). Medication was involved in 50.0% of the cases. Conclusion: Accidental exogenic poisoning affecting children younger than five years of age stands out as a significant public health problem. As a member of a multiprofessional health team, the nurse plays an important role in health education and in the measures to prevent child poisoning.

LA - SN - 0103-2100 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-21002008000200008 ID - ref1 ER -