Specialized center in the DF records 1700 children with poisoning in 2012

The Toxicological Information Center (ITC) sector of the Federal District Health Secretariat in Brasilia responsible for providing information and guidance regarding poisoning and poisoning, received in the first six months of this year, about 1,700 calls involving children under 14. The total is 33% higher than the same period of 2011, when 1,143 calls were made for the sector.

For the head of CIT, Sandra Marcia da Silva, who attributes this growth to the broadcasting service in the media, children are more affected by intoxication. In all the CIT last year made 4698 visits. Of these, 1,836 were related to cases of poisoning in children younger than 14 years, 46.6% of the total caseload.

In order to reduce these occurrences, the Center has promoted this year lectures in schools for children aged 3 to 12 years, together with the Health Surveillance. In these meetings are treated as subjects poisoning in the home environment, healthy eating, personal hygiene and measures to prevent respiratory infections. Made prevention through education is the most effective measure to reduce these public health problems, ever increasing, says the head of CIT.

When the population comes into contact with CIT, service technicians provide guidance after evaluating the circumstances of the toxic agent, signs and symptoms. The action to be taken can be a simple decontamination and observation made in house, until referral to the nearest health facility. Health professionals are advised to, in meeting the victim of poisoning, call the CIT to obtain safe and effective guidelines according to each case.

The telephone numbers are 0800-644-6774 CIT in the DF and surrounding areas, and 0800-722-6001, nationwide, the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA).

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