Commentary

Poisoning is a common reason for presentation to the paediatric emergency department (ED). In 2001, there were 2011 emergency room visits for poisoning in children and adolescents zero to 19 years of age at the 10 children’s hospitals and the five general hospitals that reported to the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (1). While acetaminophen is the most common toxin, other ‘weird and wonderful’ poisonings are seen every day in EDs across the country. This primer by Dr Koren provides a timely reminder of how poisoning may present in the ED.