Pediatric plant exposures in Germany, 1998-2004.

INTRODUCTION: Each year, 80,000 to 100,000 calls to the Poison Information Centres (PIC) concern pediatric exposures in Germany. Plant exposures are the fourth most common category, accounting for 22% of pediatric exposures.

METHODS: Information on plant exposures in children (0-14 years) was collected from annual reports of German PIC. The severity of pediatric plant exposures was classified using the number of ingestions and a calculated hazard factor.

RESULTS: A total of 58,641 cases involving 248 different plant genera were reported from 1998 to 2004. Most plant exposures were not associated with clinical effects at time of call, but 9.6% of cases had noticeable effects, including 0.4% classified as moderate and major effect.

CONCLUSIONS: The majority of plant genera have low hazard factors. Most severe poisoning (highest hazard factors and exposures) in children involved Brugmansia, Laburnum, Phaseolus, and Thuja.