Childhood poisoning: the scope for prevention.

Many deaths and disabling sequelae in children following poisoning could be prevented if more attention were given to implementing preventive measures at home. Medications and chemicals should always be safely packed and stored. Education on which products are highly dangerous and the giving of precautionary advice to parents would also help to reduce the incidence of childhood poisoning. In Hong Kong, imported vegetables (contaminated by methamidophos) and coral reef fish (containing ciguatoxins) cause poisoning in both children and adults. Advice on preventive measures should be given to the public.