Unintentional poisoning in early childhood by broad geographic region.

Child poisoning, 0-4 years, remains the second ranked cause for injury hospitalisation in Victoria. This article explores regional differences in hospital admission and emergency department (ED) rates and management of child poisoning cases. The specific objectives of this study were to: (1) Describe broad regional differences (2) Identify any differences in poisoning rates by individual agent (3) To determine, to the extent possible with existing data, whether patient management practices differed in the three broad geographical regions. Results showed that rates of hospitalised cases are highest amongst rural children, especially for paracetamol and agricultural and horticultural preparations. Rural children are also more likely to be hospitalised following a poisoning related presentation to an ED compared to metropolitan children. Research is required to determine whether there are real differences in poisoning rates between regions or if the observed differences in admissioons are the result of patient managemant practices.