RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ACCIDENTAL EXOGENOUS POISONING IN CHILDREN: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Accidental exogenous poisoning in children represents an important public health issue, with a high incidence among those aged 0 to 4 years, a period characterized by curiosity, motor development, and increased vulnerability. This study aimed to identify, in the literature, the main risk factors associated with accidental exogenous poisoning in children in the domestic environment. This is an integrative review with a qualitative and descriptive approach, conducted in accordance with PRISMA recommendations. The literature search was performed in the BVS, BDENF, and SciELO databases, using descriptors related to the topic combined with Boolean operators. Studies published in the last five years, in Portuguese and English, addressing risk factors and causes of poisoning in children aged 0 to 4 years were included. At the end of the selection process, 10 studies were included in the sample. The results showed that poisoning cases occur predominantly in the domestic environment, with higher frequency among male children and in early childhood. The main causative agents identified were medications, household cleaning products, and chemical substances, often associated with improper storage, lack of supervision, and low risk perception among caregivers. In addition, socioeconomic, educational, and behavioral factors contribute to the occurrence of these events. It is concluded that childhood poisoning is directly related to preventable conditions, reinforcing the need for health education strategies, safe storage of toxic substances, and continuous training of healthcare teams, focusing on prevention and appropriate management of these cases.