Characteristics of Children with Acute Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Ankara: A Single Centre Experience

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to define characteristics of children with acute carbon monoxide poisoning. Eighty children hospitalized with acute carbon monoxide poisoning were recruited prospectively over a period of 12 months. Sociodemographic features, complaints and laboratory data were recorded. When the patient was discharged, necessary preventive measures to be taken were explained to parents. One month later, the parents were questioned during a control examination regarding the precautions that they took. The ages of the cases were between one month and 16 yr. Education levels were low in 86.2% of mothers and 52.6% of fathers. All families had low income and 48.8% did not have formal housing. The source of the acute carbon monoxide poisoning was stoves in 71.2% of cases and hot-water heaters in 28.8% of cases. Three or more people were poisoned at home in 85.1% of the cases. The most frequent symptoms of poisoning were headache and vertigo (58.8%). Median carboxyhemoglobin levels at admission to the hospital and discharge were measured as 19.5% and 1.1% (P < 0.001). When families were called for re-evaluation, it was determined that most of them had taken the necessary precautions after the poisoning incident (86.3%). This study determined that children with acute childhood carbon monoxide poisoning are usually from families with low socioeconomic and education levels. Education about prevention should be provided to all people who are at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning before a poisoning incident occurs.

Risk factors contributing to the incidence and mortality of acute childhood poisoning in emergency department patients in Iran: a hospital-based case-control study

“…This underscores the important role of respiratory poisoning caused by carbon monoxide in child mortality in developing countries. Carbon monoxide poisoning has symptoms ranging from mild (e.g., headache, faint, lethargy, and myalgia) to severe (e.g., diplopia, syncope, coma, cardiac arrest, and death) [30-32]. Perhaps due to the co-occurrence of other risk factors and access to poisonous substances, addiction in family members increased the mortality risk of poisoned children, which should be taken into account [17,18].…”

Unintentional Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Outbreak from 2 to 9 October 2019 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

“…Among those poisoned (68.8%), no measures to prevent CO leakage when using stoves and heat-only boilers were taken, in addition, there was a lack of proper and safe use of stoves and heat-only boilers, closing the stove valve to reduce coal consumption at night. Similar conditions which resulted in acute COP were revealed in households in Ankara where the stoves and heaters were used improperly and most of the families had not taken precautions before poisoning [47]. The families used stoves and water heaters improperly and unsafely and ventilation holes of the stoves were closed down during sleep to reduce fuel combustion at night.…”

Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics Predicting the Severity of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Children

“…Childhood acute COP especially happens as a result of a home accident caused by not taking precautions with stoves and hot-water heaters used in homes. 24,25 Most potential sources of COP are coal ovens and gas heaters. 20,21,[25][26][27][28][29] In our study, the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Children primary source of COP was coal stoves, followed by natural gas, which was consistent with previous research.…”

“…Childhood acute COP especially happens as a result of a home accident caused by not taking precautions with stoves and hot-water heaters used in homes 24,25 . Most potential sources of COP are coal ovens and gas heaters 20,21,25–29 .…”