Children's Health Patients should not panic if they get poisoned

Panic reactions often lead to fatal mistakes when it comes to poisoning
Young children are generally at an increased risk of poisoning, as they take many things in the mouth and can not distinguish between food and toxins. In an emergency, it is important to first keep calm and not panic, emphasizes Dr. med. Maren Hermanns-Clausen, Head of the Poison Information Center at the University Medical Center Freiburg. By acting prematurely, such as inducing vomiting in children, the problem can be compounded.

The University Hospital Freiburg exemplifies the case of a small girl who had swallowed tantalizing-looking red berries. The mother immediately tried to trigger a nausea with the irritation of her finger. In doing so, however, she injured her child's throat causing bleeding and, moreover, "the vagus nerve behind the palate wall was so irritated by this mechanical stimulation that the child briefly became unconscious," according to the University Hospital. "The case shows that a hasty or wrong action can be more dangerous than the actual poisoning" Maren Hermanns-Clausen.

Often, small children contract poisoning by ingesting detergents or household cleaners. (Image: Marco2811 / fotolia.com)

25,000 inquiries a year at the Poison Information Center
According to the doctor, the berries the girl had swallowed were completely harmless and after a brief treatment at the hospital she was able to go home. The biggest damage had been caused by the intervention of the mother, even if she acted out of sheer concern for her child. "The most important thing in a poisoning, as in all emergencies, to keep calm," warns Dr. Hermanns-Clausen. A call to the Poison Information Center may help in estimating the risk, but in case of emergency, it is advisable to dial the emergency call directly. According to a report from the University Hospital, more than 25,000 telephone poisoning inquiries were received last year at the poisoning information center in Freiburg alone.

Tips for dealing with poisoning
When children ingest a toxic substance or plant, their parents often panic and react incorrectly, according to Dr. Maren Hermanns-Clausen. The expert explains which points to consider. For example, after ingestion of a toxic substance, a maximum of one glass of non-carbonated water, diluted juice or tea should be drunk. Hermanns-Clausen. The idea that the poison must be transported as quickly as possible by vomiting back out of the body is wrong. According to Dr. Hermanns-Clausen "should not be triggered vomiting because corrosive substances can then damage the esophagus again." In addition, the risk increases that the toxins enter the respiratory tract and damage the lungs there.

Home remedies for poisoning rather critical
Other supposed home remedies for poisoning are also rated by Dr. med. Hermanns-Clausen extremely critical. It should, for example, no salt be taken, as this can even be a poisoning triggered, warns the expert from Freiburg. Drinking milk also helps the poison more than the own body. "The fat content of the milk may increase the intake"; so the note in the message of the University Hospital Freiburg.

Most infants are affected by poisoning
The majority of calls received by the poisoning information center in Freiburg relate to poisoning cases of children up to the age of five. "Children are most likely to swallow cleansers out of curiosity, especially machine and hand dishwashing detergents," reports Dr. med. Hermanns-Clausen. In addition, drugs would often lead to poisoning, but plants of all kinds were possible triggers. The plants attract especially small children magically, emphasizes the expert. The children would especially prefer plants with colorful berries such as cherry laurel, yew, privet or physalis. At indoor plants the Ficus benjamina list the most frequently swallowed plants. More than 80 percent of cases of poisoning with plants in childhood are observed among one to four-year-olds.

Adult poisoning
Although children make up the largest share of poisoning cases, poisoning with plants is not uncommon in adults. Cause here are mostly confusions. For example, the gathering of wild wild garlic is quite popular in spring. Subsequently, tasty salads or seasonings are prepared from this. "The problem is that the wild garlic leaves can be confused with leaves of the autumn timeless and leaves of the lily of the valley and they are extremely poisonous," warns Dr. Hermanns-Clausen. Ignorant collectors can therefore easily become poisoned. The situation is similar, for example, with mushroom picking, as poisonous and non-toxic species are sometimes very similar. (Fp)