Publications

A new multicentre case–control study published in BMJ Paediatrics Open—“Psychosocial and contextual risk factors of adolescent deliberate poisoning: a multicentre case–control study in Sri Lanka”, explores the underlying psychosocial and environmental drivers of adolescent self-poisoning.

The study compared adolescents admitted with deliberate poisoning to matched community controls and found that prior mental-health issues, family conflict, parental substance misuse, school disengagement and recent stressful life events significantly increased risk. Easy household access to medicines and agrochemicals was a prominent modifiable factor. Social isolation and lack of adolescent mental-health support services further compounded vulnerability.

The authors call for targeted interventions—limiting access to toxic substances, strengthening school-based mental-health programmes, training frontline workers to identify at-risk youth, and improving referral pathways to care.

This research highlights the urgent need for culturally tailored, multisectoral prevention efforts in Sri Lanka. KidToxLK encourages health professionals, educators and policymakers to translate these findings into practical action to reduce adolescent self-poisoning and improve early support.

Read the full text at:  https://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/9/1/e003949

A new case report published in the Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health highlights a rare and life-threatening complication of Hottentotta tamulus (white scorpion) envenomation in a 6-year-old boy from Mannar. This is the first documented case in the district and the first Sri Lankan paediatric case presenting with cardiogenic shock following a scorpion sting.

The child developed severe cardiovascular collapse, pulmonary oedema, and myocarditis, requiring intensive care, intubation, and multiple inotropes. Despite the unavailability of antivenom or intravenous prazosin, timely administration of oral prazosin and critical supportive management led to recovery.

This case underscores the emerging threat of scorpion envenomation beyond Jaffna, the potential for severe cardiac complications in children, and the challenges faced in resource-limited rural hospitals.

Read the full text at:  https://sljch.sljol.info/articles/11171/files/68b4568ab429e.pdf

A recent study, “First-aid practices and pre-hospital care in paediatric snakebites”, sheds light on the widespread use of potentially harmful first-aid actions taken before professional medical care begins. 

While many caregivers confidently administer first-aid in emergencies, this research shows that some commonly used methods may actually increase risk rather than reduce harm. The authors analyse which practices are safe, which are potentially detrimental, and the factors that predict when harmful approaches are more likely to be used. 

At KidsToxLK, our mission is to provide accurate, evidence-based guidance on poisoning prevention and management for children. We believe that by understanding and correcting first-aid myths, caregivers across Sri Lanka can respond more safely and effectively in emergencies. 

Read the full text at:  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12333078/