Clinical toxicology : the official journal of the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology and European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Jun 2019
Observational StudyButton battery exposures in Australian children: a prospective observational study highlighting the role of poisons information centres.
Button battery ingestion is a worldwide problem, with evidence of increasing harms and deaths in recent decades. Australian Poisons Information Centre (PIC) experience includes cases of treatment delay due to lack of healthcare professional recognition of risks, and/or lack of local resources. This study aims to characterise Australian button battery exposures, focusing on exposure circumstances, and preventable health system shortcomings. ⋯ Button battery exposures continue to be a problem in Australia. Data collected by PICs can provide useful information for public health and product safety initiatives. A PIC-led protocol to direct initial medical management of button battery exposures could reduce delays and improve outcomes.