Poisoning
By Bjarne Lühr Hansen PhD, MD and Philipp Skafte-Holm MD, Mentor Institute
Poisoning occurs frequently, especially with children in the age of 1 to 5 years old. Even though poisoning is frequent it is luckily very rare that children are permanently damaged or die from it. How ill the child becomes depend on what kind of toxin the child has eaten or drunk and how large quantities the child has taken in.
The child can be exposed to poisoning through the skin (acids and bases), in the eyes (acids and bases), through the lungs (toxic gasses) and through the mouth (medication, chemicals and plants).
The most frequent causes of poisoning are medication, chemicals, tobacco, mushrooms, plants and insect bites. Both chemicals and medication should be kept locked away in a cabinet. Ashtrays should be emptied for left over tobacco. Mushrooms and plants growing in the nature are difficult to avoid, but it is a good idea go through the area the child moves about in on a daily basis for poisonous plants and mushrooms.
In most cases with poisoning, it is sensible to consult the doctor. There is an uncountable number of poisons and the doctor can look the poison up and advise you. It is important that you are as specific as possible about finding out what and how much the child has taken in of the toxin.