The management of poisoning

Ingestion of a potentially toxic substance is a common reason for children and young people to attend the emergency department or primary care. Fortunately, mortality and significant morbidity is very low and the vast majority of children require little more than observation. The challenge for the paediatrician is to identify those children at risk of severe symptoms and manage them appropriately. This review aims to provide an overview of the recognition, evaluation and management of the poisoned child or young person.