5 Cases of Child Poisoning Recorded: Armen Muradyan's Appeal to Parents

Dear parents, we would like to draw your attention once again to an important issue that is becoming a serious threat to children's health, wrote Armen Muradyan, the rector of Yerevan State Medical University, on his Facebook page.

“In just one day, 5 cases of poisoning from hazardous household chemicals were recorded at the Muratsan University Hospital. Hazardous household chemicals and medications should be kept in locked cabinets or in other inaccessible places for children. It is concerning to note that there have been instances where the same child has been admitted to the university hospital multiple times for poisoning from different substances.

Once again, we urge you to keep hazardous household chemicals and medications stored in locked cabinets or in other places that children cannot access. Be extremely careful when using dangerous chemicals, as they can become accessible to children during that time.

Toxic substances should be kept in factory bottles and boxes, maintaining warning labels to avoid confusion. Among the stored chemicals, particularly dangerous ones include corrosive chemicals such as ammonia, caustic soda (alkali), acids (such as acetic acid essence), and certain substances that yield caustic residues, as well as some cleaning liquids that contain bases and acids which can cause severe damage.

Other dangerous substances mentioned include solvents and petroleum products, such as paints, lamp oil, gasoline, and kerosene.

Poisonings caused by medications can also be extremely dangerous. Heart and blood pressure medications, sedatives, antidepressants, narcotics, painkillers, anti-diabetic medications, colchicine, and more are particularly hazardous. Children are more likely to consume sweetened drugs or syrups, which they may ingest in large quantities, posing extreme danger.

For such poisonings in children, you can quickly turn to the only specialized institution, the University Clinic of Toxicology and Pediatric Resuscitation, where they can diagnose poisoning, assess the degree of danger, and provide necessary treatment. We remind you that a favorable outcome is largely dependent on seeking timely and professional assistance.”