Acute Severe Poisonings In Children (ASPIC), Version 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Prospective Study of Acute Severe Poisonings In Children
IRAS ID
191072
Contact name
Elizabeth Starkey
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 1 days
Research summary
Poisoning occurs when someone is exposed to a substance that can affect his or her health. Accidental or unintentional poisonings involve people poisoning themselves or others without wanting to cause harm. Accidental poisoning in children is a common reason for attendance at healthcare providers. Young children, especially those under five, have an inquisitive nature, and frequently put things found in their environment into their mouths. Teenagers involved in taking illicit drugs or alcohol are also in danger of poisoning themselves unintentionally because of their risk-taking behaviour.
Serious consequences are rare after an accidental poisoning and most children are either discharged or observed for a few hours. However, a number of children continue to suffer significant harm, with between 5 and 10 deaths each year and around 50 children admitted to intensive care within the UK. There is very little detailed data regarding serious poisoning in children in the UK.
This study, for the first time, will determine the incidence and identify the circumstances surrounding severe accidental poisoning in children under 15 years in the UK and Republic of Ireland resulting in death, or signs and symptoms of poisoning defined as needing significant monitoring or support. This is a prospective, national, surveillance cohort study, conducted in secondary care in collaboration with the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit (BPSU). Paediatricians within UK and Republic of Ireland will report cases of severe poisoning through the BPSU ‘orange card’ system over a period of 13 months as part of this study.
Accidental poisoning is an avoidable problem and remains an important public health issue. It is well recognised that blanket approaches to public health campaigns are often ineffective. By identifying specific trends in severe poisonings, in particular including specific substances that frequently cause significant harm, it is hoped that these can be subsequently be targeted.REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/EM/0464
Date of REC Opinion
30 Jan 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion