Highlights & Basics
- Toxic ingestions refer to the accidental or deliberate ingestion of a substance with resultant toxicity or risk of toxicity. Children may ingest a toxic substance accidentally while exploring their environment, or deliberately in response to stress or underlying mental problems, or in an attempt to get "high."
- A regional poison-control center or medical toxicologist should be contacted with any suspected overdose in a child.
- The range of possible ingestions is broad; diagnosis is based on a combination of thorough clinical evaluation and comprehensive laboratory investigation to identify all ingested substances.
- Some asymptomatic patients require observation for 6 hours, or 24 hours for high-risk ingestions; most asymptomatic patients in the US can remain at home with phone follow-up with a poison control center.
- The mainstay of management of symptomatic patients is management of airway, breathing, and circulation, with appropriate supportive care. Specific antidotes may also be required.
Quick Reference
History & Exam
Key Factors
Other Factors
Diagnostics Tests
Treatment Options
Definition
Epidemiology
Etiology
Pathophysiology
Citations
Hoffman RS, Burns MM, Gosselin S. Ingestion of caustic substances. N Engl J Med. 2020 Apr 30;382(18):1739-48.
McKay C. Can the laboratory help me? Toxicology laboratory testing in the possibly poisoned pediatric patient. Clin Pedi EM. 2005;6:116-22.
Dart RC, Goldfrank LR, Erstad BL, et al. Expert consensus guidelines for stocking of antidotes in hospitals that provide emergency care. Ann Emerg Med. 2018 Mar;71(3):314-25.e1.[Abstract][Full Text]
Royal College of Emergency Medicine. College of Emergency Medicine and National Poisons Information Service guideline on antidote availability for emergency departments, 2021 update. Dec 2021 [internet publication].[Full Text]
American Academy of Clinical Toxicology, European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists. Position paper: single-dose activated charcoal. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2005;43(2):61-87.[Abstract][Full Text]
- WikiTox
- American College of Medical Toxicology: positions, guidelines and recommendations
- American Association of Poison Control Centers: National Poison Data System
- IPCS INCHEM: poisons information monographs
- World Health Organization: chemical safety
- Royal College of Emergency Medicine: guidance
- American Academy of Clinical Toxicology: recommendations
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