The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Educating parents can prevent accidental poisoning

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Monday, Jun 22, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Educating parents can prevent accidental poisoning

R. Sujatha

CHENNAI: Four days ago, a two-year-old was brought to Government Children’s Hospital in Egmore after he drank kerosene. A week ago, another two-year-old child was admitted to hospital after he drank mosquito repellent. The first child died on Wednesday afternoon while the second is battling for life in the intensive care unit.

Every year, over 700 children are admitted to the hospital with a history of poisoning. The ICU receives around 300 children, mostly pre-schoolers, below the age of five.

Around 20 of those admitted die and nearly half of the deaths are due to ingesting kerosene. Kerosene vapours fill the lungs, causes oxygen deficiency and results in the damage of organs.

Poisoning is a condition that can be prevented by merely educating parents, paediatricians say. Commonly, infants aged a few days old are brought with problems after they are administered ‘vasambu,’ a traditional herb.

Mild poisoning results in vomiting but a severe condition would lead to unconsciousness, breathing irregularities and circulatory problems.

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