To a toxicologist, "poisonings" are cases in which the child has a defined pattern of symptoms, corresponding to toxic effects at a mid to high level of exposure. "Toxicity" refers to a broader spectrum of effects. At lower levels of toxicity a child may have no specific, individual symptoms but may be affected subclinically. There are three basic strategies to protect children: individual inte...

Since the 1970s, we have known that second-hand smoke (SHS) makes children sick, but we have only recently begun to quantify tobacco-related ill health, and to monitor the effects of public health interventions. In this issue of the European Respiratory Journal, BEEN et al. [1] quantify, for the first time, the effects of smoke-free legislation on hospitalisations for paediatric respiratory inf...

This month, as we celebrate National Children's Health Month with Environmental Health Perspectives' (EHP) annual issue focused on children's health around the world, one particular nexus of concern has risen to the forefront: the current and potential impacts of climate change on children's health. Although climate change has become a constant topic of scientific inquiry and political discussi...

Abuse other clinical conundrums, often remain unresolved either by investigations or by the passage of time. Management of suspected child abuse is usually shared with or handed to other professionals such as social workers or the police and, for many health staff, this loss of control and a lack of mutual trust and respect between disciplines add to their anxiety. For community based staff, wo...

Restricting tobacco smoking in public places is a key part of WHO recommendations to reduce tobacco-related harm.1WHOWHO report on the global epidemic: offer help quit use: executive summary. World Health Organization, Geneva2019Google Scholar The population health benefits this intervention are well established and include reductions preterm birth hospital admissions for respiratory disorders ...