Poisoning:
Poisoning is a common medical emergency in childhood. In children under 5 years of age essentially all poisoning are accidental. Nearly 75 per cent of all poisoning episodes involve ingestion of substance which are nontoxic or have mild toxicity.
A poison is any substance that when ingested, inhaled or absorbed even in relatively small amounts can cause damage to a structure or disturbance of body function by its chemical action.
Poisoning is defined as a morbid condition caused by the ingestion of a toxic substance.
Common Clinical Manifestation
Gastrointestinal Disturbances: Nausea, vomiting, anorexia, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea.
Respiratory and Circulatory Symptoms: possible unexplained cyanosis, shock, and collapse.
Central Nervous System: lethargy, sudden loss of consciousness and convulsions, dizziness, stupor, coma.