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Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Children and Pregnant People: Recognition and Prevention

A Resource for Health Professionals

PEHSU Factsheet: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Children and Pregnant People

 Summary of Key Points posted on Jan 31, 2022
 What is Carbon Monoxide? posted on Jan 31, 2022
 What are Potential Sources of CO? posted on Jan 31, 2022
 Carbon Monoxide Detectors posted on Jan 31, 2022
 Who is at Risk? posted on Jan 31, 2022
 Does CO Poisoning Impact Pregnancy Outcomes? posted on Jan 31, 2022
 What is the Pathophysiology of CO Poisoning? posted on Jan 31, 2022
 What are the Symptoms of CO Poisoning? posted on Jan 31, 2022
 How to Diagnose and Evaluate CO Poisoning? posted on Jan 31, 2022
 If it is suspected that a child has been poisoned by Carbon Monoxide: posted on Jan 31, 2022
 Important CO Poisoning Prevention Tips for Families posted on Jan 31, 2022
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References

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  2. American Thoracic Society. In utero exposure to carbon monoxide increases infants' risk of poor lung function. Science Daily. Accessed on June 10, 2020 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180521092740.htm
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  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nonfatal, unintentional, non-fire-related carbon monoxide exposures--United States, 2004-2006. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). 57(33), 896–899.
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  13. Juul N, Friedenberg A. Carboxyhemoglobin as High as K2. In: C43. DRUG INDUCED LUNG DISEASE: CASE REPORTS. American Thoracic Society International Conference Abstracts. American Thoracic Society; 2017:A5573-A5573. doi:10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2017.195.1_MeetingAbstracts.A557
  14. Hampson NB, Piantadosi CA, Thom SR, Weaver LK. Practice recommendations in the diagnosis, management, and prevention of carbon monoxide poisoning. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2012;186:1095–1101. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201207-1284CI
  15. Hampson NB. Noninvasive pulse CO-oximetry expedites evaluation and management of patients with carbon monoxide poisoning. American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2012;30(9), 2021–2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2012.03.026
  16. Koren G, Sharav T, Pastuszak A, Garrettson LK, Hill K, Samson I, Rorem M, King A, Dolgin JE. A Multicenter, Prospective Study of Fetal Outcome Following Accidental Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Pregnancy. Reproductive Toxicology. 1991; 5:397-403. doi: 10.1016/0890-6238(91)90002-w
  17. Kuschner WG, Blanc PD. Gases and other airborne toxicants. Current Diagnosis And Treatment: Occupational And Environmental Medicine (pp. 559 - 591). McGraw-Hill Medical.
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  19. Buboltz JB, Robins M. Hyperbaric Treatment of Carbon Monoxide Toxicity. StatPearls. Accessed February 10, 2021. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470531/
  20. Macnow TE, Waltzman, ML. Carbon monoxide poisoning in children: diagnosis and management in the emergency department. Pediatric Emergency Medical Practice. 2016;13(9), 1–24. PMID: 27547917.
  21. Mimura K, Harada M, Sumiyoshi S, Tohya G, Takagi M, Fujita E, Takata A, Tatetsu S. Seishin shinkeigaku zasshi. Psychiatria Neurology Japonica. 1999; 101(7), 592–618.
  22. Parkinson RB, Hopkins RO, Cleavinger HB, Weaver LK, Victoroff J, Foley JF, Bigler ED. White matter hyperintensities and neuropsychological outcome following carbon monoxide poisoning. Neurology. 2002;58(10), 1525–1532. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.58.10.1525
  23. Penney DG. Chronic Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: A Case Series. CRC Press. 2008. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.1201/9780849384189-31/chronic-carbon-monoxide-poisoning-case-series-david-penney
  24. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. QuickStats: Number of Deaths Resulting from Unintentional Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, by Month and Year, National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2010–2015. Morbidity and Morality Weekly Report (MMWR). 2017;66:234. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6608a9.
  25. Rajaonarison JJC, Nithart A, Rakotomahenina H, Randaoharison PG, Dallay D,et al. Unintentional Acute Carbon Monoxide Poisoning During Pregnancy: Five Years of Experience in Bordeaux. Global Journal of Reproductive Medicine. 2018; 6(1): 555679. DOI: 10.19080/GJORM.2018.06.555679.
  26. Rose JJ, Wang L, Xu Q, McTiernan CF, Shiva S, Tejero J, Gladwin MT. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Pathogenesis, Management, and Future Directions of Therapy. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2017;195(5), 596–606. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201606-1275CI
  27. Specific Poisons and Drugs: Diagnosis and Treatment (2012). In K.R. Olson, I.B. Anderson, N.L. Benowitz, P.D. Blanc, R.F. Clark, T.E. Kearney, S.Y. Kim-Katz, A.B. Wu (Eds.), Poisoning & Drug Overdose. McGraw-Hill Education;
  28. Suner S, Partridge R, Sucov A, Valente J, Chee K, Hughes A, Jay G. Non-invasive pulse CO-oximetry screening in the emergency department identifies occult carbon monoxide toxicity. Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2008;34(4), 441–450. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jemermed.2007.12.004
  29. Thompson LM, Clark M, Cadman B, Canúz E, Smith KR. (2011). Exposures to high levels of carbon monoxide from wood-fired temazcal (steam bath) use in highland Guatemala. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health. 2011;17(2), 103–112. https://doi-org.ucsf.idm.oclc.org/10.1179/107735211799030979
  30. Unsal SR, Taşar MA, Bostanci, I, Şimşec Y, Bilge-Dallar Y. Characteristics of Children with Acute Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Ankara: A Single Centre Experience. Journal of Korean Medical Science. 2015; 30(12), 1836–1840. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2015.30.12.1836
  31. Weaver LK, Hopkins RO, Churchill SK, Deru K. Neurological outcomes 6 years after acute carbon monoxide poisoning. Undersea and hyperbaric Medical Society. 2008; 35:258–259
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  33. Weaver LK, Orrison WW, Deru K, McIntosh J. Brain imaging abnormalities in carbon monoxide–poisoned patients with ongoing symptoms at least 6 months after poisoning. Undersea Hyperbaric Medical Society. 2015;42:469–470.
  34. Wylie, BJ. The Ghana randomized air pollution and health study: A cluster-randomized trial of clean cookstoves to improve obstetric outcomes. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2017;216(1)S23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2016.11.923
  35. Klees M, Heremans M. Dougan S. Psychological sequelae to carbon monoxide intoxication in the child. Science of The Total Environment. 1985; (44)2, 165-176. https://doi.org/10.1016/0048-9697(85)90120-2
  36. Kim JK, Coe CJ. Clinical Study on Carbon Monoxide Intoxication in Children. Yonsei Medical Journal. 1987 Dec;28(4):266-273. https://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.1987.28.4.266
  37. Khan K, Sharief N. Chronic carbon monoxide poisoning in children. Acta Paediatrica. 1995;84(7):742. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1995.tb13747.

The Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (PEHSUs) are supported by cooperative agreement FAIN: NU61TS000296 with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (CDC/ATSDR). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also provides support through Inter-Agency Agreement DW-75-95877701 with CDC/ATSDR. The American Academy of Pediatrics supports the PEHSUs as the National Program Office. The content on this website has not been formally disseminated by CDC/ATSDR or the EPA and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy. Use of trade names that may be mentioned is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the CDC/ATSDR or EPA.

The information contained on this website should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your/your child’s primary care provider. There may be variations in treatment that your provider may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

Last updated: January 2022