Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Poisons, Children and First Aid
- Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
- Symptoms & Signs
- Diagnosis & Tests
- Prevention & Expectations
- Treatment & Monitoring
- Attribution
- View All
Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Poisoning occurs when a child comes in contact with a toxic substance. Contact can mean swallowing, inhaling, touching, or injecting a toxic substance.
What are the causes and risks of the injury?
Most of the poisonings reported to poison control centers in the US each year involve children and adolescents. Many involve children less than 6 years of age.
Younger children are at greater risk of poisoning. Children are curious and have poor impulse control. Poisoning in older children and adolescents is more likely to be due to impulsive, risk-taking behavior, such as alcohol poisoning or glue sniffing, or suicide attempts.
Poisons are in many household items. Items children can be poisoned by include:
Certain situations are more risky for children, especially toddlers. These are situations in which the caretaker may not be paying usual attention to the child. This is more likely to happen: