JAMAICA-Doctor urges immediate treatment for consuming poisonous substances.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The head of the Department of Paediatrics at the Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital, Dr. Ludrick Morris, urges parents to seek immediate medical attention for their child if they have consumed a poisonous substance.

His statement comes in the wake of an increase in accidental poisoning among children in Western Jamaica, with the medical practitioner saying that to ensure the best possible medical response, parents are advised to bring the original container of the substance that was ingested, allowing healthcare professionals to identify the poison and determine if an antidote is available.

“A thing not to do is try to induce vomiting because that sometimes can make things worse,” Dr. Morris said, adding, “Sometimes it (induced vomiting) increases the risk of aspiration, meaning it (poison) getting down into the lung and can cause significant breathing problems. Sometimes, children end up on ventilators and, unfortunately, sometimes die because of aspiration,” Dr. Morris told a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank.’

Dr. Morris pointed out that early intervention is critical, especially the administration of activated charcoal, which can prevent the poison from being absorbed into the bloodstream, noting that this treatment is most effective when given within an hour of ingestion.

He also highlighted the importance of having emergency contact numbers available so parents can call en route to the hospital.

“For the most part, we (Western Regional Health Authority) are equipped to deal with the cases of accidental poisoning. So, the majority of the children will be up and running within the day of the ingestion,” Dr. Morris said, noting that while most cases of accidental poisoning are treatable, certain substances, such as medication for diabetes, can cause severe harm.

Also, in rare instances, he noted that ingestion of substances without known antidotes can be fatal, and as a result, he is advising parents and guardians to properly secure household chemicals, medications, cosmetic agents, and other substances to prevent incidents of accidental poisoning among children.

Surveillance data from Westmoreland have indicated that accidental poisoning remains a leading cause of illness among children in the region.