Acute lethal poisonings in children: a 10-year retrospective study of the Moscow Region, Russia

Background: Poisoning is a critical public health problem. Toxic substances differ across time, region and age. Little is known about poisoning in Russia, and even less is known about lethal poisoning in children in Russia. We aimed to describe the characteristics of cases of lethal poisoning in children and adolescents.Design and methods: Our retrospective study was based on autopsy reports from archives of the Moscow Region Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination for the period of 2009 to 2018.Results: A total of 438 lethal poisoning cases were recorded. The average age of the poisoned children was 11.3 years. Deaths predominantly occurred in boys, mostly due to the higher frequency of poisoning with household and technical chemicals (p<0.01). Accidental deaths were also higher in males (p < 0.01). Therapeutic drug poisoning (p<0.01) and suicide (p < 0.01) were more frequent in females. The leading cause of lethal poisoning in children was exposure to carbon monoxide, especially in children aged 5 to 9 years (p<0.01) and 1 to 4 years (p<0.01). Carbon monoxide poisoning occurred more often in winter (p<0.01). Regarding the structure of poisoning with household and technical chemicals, the most frequent was poisoning by a mixture of utility gases.Conclusion: Our study shows that carbon monoxide poisoning is a serious problem in the region. This may be associated with the ongoing use of individual heating systems. A significant increase in the frequency of fatal poisoning by chemicals, especially by propane-butane gas mixtures while sniffing, has become a disturbing trend.

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Structure of acute lethal poisonings in children: a retrospective study in the Moscow Region, Russia

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.1366 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

V V Vlassov ◽

S S Plis ◽

O V Veselkina ◽

V V Klevno

Keyword(s):

Carbon Monoxide ◽

Illicit Drugs ◽

Age Groups ◽

Case Series ◽

Moscow Region ◽

Health Concern ◽

Time Interval ◽

Toxic Substances ◽

Fatal Poisoning ◽

Therapeutic Drugs

Abstract Background Poisonings are of major public health concern - they cause sickness and death in many children. The clinical case series are non-informative about the very severe intoxications. The objective of this study was to describe the spectrum of toxic substances leading to the death of children, and analyze the time trends and age differences. Materials and Methods We analyzed autopsy reports from the archives of the Bureau of Forensic Medical Expertise of the Moscow Region over a 10-year period. Results Of total children's deaths in age 0 to 19 (n = 3873), unnatural death accounted for 71% of cases (n = 2750). In the structure of unnatural deaths, poisoning accounted for 15.56%. The average age of dead children is 11.2 ± 6.10 years (X + SD). Deaths of boys dominates (at least 60% in age older one year), mostly due to the higher frequency of poisoning with chemical/technical agents (p < 0.01). Age groups are different by the causes of death (p < 0.01): higher frequency of poisoning by carbon monoxide (p = 0.036) in younger children and in older children - by illicit drugs (p = 0,026). There was significant increase in frequency of fatal poisoning by therapeutic drugs and chemical-technical agents in 2016-2018 compared with the previous time interval (p < 0.01). Conclusions The most common cause of Russian children's death is the exposition to the carbon monoxide. The improvement in living conditions and heating technology is a major preventive measure. In the group of therapeutic drugs, the leading toxicant is drotaverine, and among technical substances - natural gas (as a recreational self-poisoning). Key messages Unnatural deaths a numerous in Russian children, and intoxication is one of the leading causes. Dangerous heating of the houses is a major and preventable cause of death by CO intoxication.

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Is S100B protein level really not an indicator of brain damage due to carbon monoxide poisoning in children?

The American Journal of Emergency Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.ajem.2013.07.015 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 31 (10) ◽

pp. 1531 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yusuf Emrah Eyi ◽

Yakup Aksoy ◽

Emre Zorlu ◽

Abdullah Kaya ◽

Kadir Ozturk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carbon Monoxide ◽

Brain Damage ◽

Protein Level ◽

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ◽

S100b Protein ◽

Poisoning In Children

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Smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning in children

Pediatric Emergency Care ◽

10.1097/00006565-198603000-00010 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 36-39 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

RUTH ANN PARISH

Keyword(s):

Carbon Monoxide ◽

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ◽

Smoke Inhalation ◽

Poisoning In Children

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Epidemiological aspects and a current approach to the problem of carbon monoxide poisoning

Russian Journal of Forensic Medicine ◽

10.19048/fm344 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 4-9

Author(s):

Sayit I. Indiaminov ◽

Antonina A. Kim

Keyword(s):

Carbon Monoxide ◽

World Literature ◽

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ◽

Epidemiological Data ◽

Current Approach ◽

Co Poisoning ◽

Fatal Poisoning ◽

Young Males ◽

Causes Of Mortality ◽

Mechanical Asphyxia

Background: Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is the leading cause of death from poisoning (accidental and intentional). The number of cases of CO poisoning is increasing day by day. Aims: The aim of the study was to analyze the epidemiological situation of CO poisoning and identify the urgent aspects of this problem. In the article, the author provided a retrospective analysis of 117 cases of CO poisoning, registered in a number of regional branches of the Republican Scientific and Practical Center of the Forensic Medical Examination of Uzbekistan, after he studied and analyzed the world literature on the epidemiology of CO poisoning. It has been revealed that fatal poisoning ranks third after mechanical injuries and mechanical asphyxia and constitutes 6.3% (513 cases) in the range of deaths by violence (8078 cases). Therefore, CO poisoning is considered as one of the most prevailing (51%) causes of mortality. Conclusion: This is a global problem, with young males at risk. Further studies on the current clinical and forensic aspects of CO poisoning are required, and the necessity for regular analysis of epidemiological data for taking comprehensive measures to prevent CO poisoning is emphasized.

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