Acute Pesticide Poisoning among Children in South Korea: Findings from National Health Insurance Claims Data, 2006–2009. (12th August 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Won Jin; Ko, Yousun; Cha, Eun Shil
• Is Part Of: Journal of tropical pediatrics. Volume 60:Number 1(2014:Feb.)
• Page Start: 4
• Page End: 9
• Publication Date: 2013-08-12
• Subjects: agricultural chemicals -- children -- epidemiology -- incidence -- poisoning; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Tropical medicine -- Periodicals; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Tropical Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental Health -- Periodicals; Infant; Child; 618.929883
• DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmt067
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0142-6338

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of acute pesticide poisoning among children in South Korea and describe the related epidemiologic characteristics. Methods: We evaluated the age-standardized rates of incidence of pesticide poisoning among children in South Korea from 2006 through 2009 using National Health Insurance claims data. Results: A total of 1232 children aged 0–14 years were identified from the acute pesticide poisoning cases reported across South Korea during the study period. The annual average age-standardized rate of incidence from acute pesticide poisoning was 3.6 per 100 000. The majority of the cases were identified in the categories of the 1–4-year-old age-group (56.5%), outpatients (80.0%), single-day visit to a hospital (70.4%) and summer occurrence (43.3%). Conclusions: Acute pesticide poisoning is prevalent among children in South Korea; therefore, intervention efforts are needed to reduce the cases of pesticide poisoning among children.