Poisoning deaths among Finnish children from 1969 to 2003

  1. Juho E Kivistö1,2,3,4,
  2. Jari Parkkari5,
  3. Ville M Mattila1,3,
  4. Kalle Hoppu6,7

Article first published online: 25 JUN 2009

DOI: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2009.01408.x

Issue

Acta Paediatrica

Acta Paediatrica

Volume 98, Issue 10, pages 1661–1666, October 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Kivistö, J. E., Parkkari, J., Mattila, V. M. and Hoppu, K. (2009), Poisoning deaths among Finnish children from 1969 to 2003. Acta Paediatrica, 98: 1661–1666. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2009.01408.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland

  2. 2

    Paediatric Research Centre, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland

  3. 3

    Hämeenlinna Central Hospital, Hämeenlinna, Finland

  4. 4

    Department of Paediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland

  5. 5

    Tampere Research Centre of Sports Medicine, UKK Institute, Tampere, Finland

  6. 6

    Poison Information Centre, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

  7. 7

    Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

*Juho Kivistö, M.D., Simolankatu 22 G 18, 33270 Tampere, Finland. Tel: +358-40-530-4445 | Fax: +358-33-551-6057 | Email: juho.kivisto@uta.fi

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 1 SEP 2009
  2. Article first published online: 25 JUN 2009
  3. Received 2 April 2009; revised 28 May 2009; accepted 3 June 2009.

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Keywords:

  • Child;
  • Death;
  • Poisoning

Abstract

Aim:  Trends in paediatric deaths due to poisoning are little studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the cause and secular trend of poisoning deaths among Finnish children.

Methods:  Death certificates of all Finnish children aged 0–15 who died due to poisoning between 1969 and 2003 were obtained from the Statistics of Finland and analysed.

Results:  During the study period, altogether 121 children aged 0–15 years died from poisoning in Finland. Among 0- to 4-year olds, the incidence of poisoning deaths declined to practically zero by the beginning of 1980s. Most of these deaths were unintentional poisonings. Among 5- to 15-year olds, the incidence of poisoning deaths varied during the study period. In this age group, up to 53% of the deaths were suicides among girls compared with 20% among boys (p = 0.017). The corresponding figures for substance abuse were 54% among boys and 9% among girls (p < 0.001).

Conclusion:  Despite the declining secular trend seen in paediatric poisoning deaths in Finland from 1969 to 2003, the risk of death from both intentional and unintentional poisoning persists in children. Health programmes should be continued especially to promote well-being in families and to prevent teenage suicides and substance abuse.

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