ACUTE INFANTILE METHEMOGLOBINEMIA. A STATISTICAL APPROACH

Authors: Tatiana IOV, Tudor CIUHODARU, Cătălin J. IOV, Sofia Mihaela DAVID, Diana BULGARU-ILIESCU

Abstract:

The presence of nitrites and nitrates in the living body can lead to the appearance of compounds with major toxic effect. Although in the Convention on the Rights of the Child adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on November 20 [1], 1989 (published in the Official Monitor no. 109 on November 28, 1990) article 24, paragraph 2 (c) states the obligation of the signatory states to fight diseases, inclusively by assuring an adequate supply of drinking water, acute infantile methemoglobinemia caused by well water still represents a health problem in Romania. For now, cases of acute nitrate poisoning in infants and even deaths are still registered. Nevertheless, several reports focused on the prebiotic potential of the nitrate upon oral health. This paper emphasizes the risks associated with ingestion of substances with a high content of nitrites and nitrates for infants. Information from the Public Health Directorate of Iasi county and reports on literature reports has been analyzed.

Keywords:
  • nitrates
  • nitrites
  • RISK FACTORS