Report of poisonings in pediatric age in the media in Colombia during the period 2011-2022

Abstract

Background: Accidental exposures are the most common causes of poisoning and represent up to 70% of cases, especially in pediatric age. However, there is an under-registration of these events in Colombian territory.

Objective: Describe the reports of pediatric poisoning reported by the media in Colombia during 2011-2022.

Methodology: A search was carried out for reports of pediatric poisoning published by the media via the Internet (websites and social networks) and physical media (magazines, newspapers, and social networks) between 2011 and 2022. The keywords were used for the search: intoxication, poisoning, pediatrics, children, Colombia, home, poisonous animals, chemicals, household products, and gases, combined with the Boolean operator Y. All extracted data were condensed in a database and subsequently analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results: 285 cases of poisoning in the pediatric population reported during the search period were found. These were distributed in the Caribbean, Andean, Pacific, Orinoquía and Amazon regions. The causative agents of these poisonings were poisonous animals (snakes, centipedes, scorpions, and bees) and gases (carbon monoxide). There were reports of 41 deaths of minors after exposure to these etiological agents.

Conclusion: Pediatric poisonings are an essential issue for health systems and for the community itself; given the existing under-reporting of these events, we want to draw attention to creating community and public health strategies so that these preventable events decrease.