20 preschoolers hospitalized after accidentally consuming rat poison

By 11 a.m. the children were stable and were being closely monitored, a spokesperson for the Lai Chau General Hospital in the northern province said.

The children are aged two to three and students of Giang Ma Preschool in Lai Chau.

At 8:40 a.m. a teacher noticed a few kids had accidentally consumed rat poison and quickly contacted the local health station staff, who rushed the children to the hospital.

Authorities are investigating.

A box of rat poison that some preschoolers in Lai Chau Province are suspected to have accidentally eaten. Photo by Lai Chau Newspaper

Accidental ingesting rat poison is a frequent occurrence in Vietnam since it often comes in bright colors that attract children who mistake it for candy or pick it up out of curiosity.

Doctors warn that consuming large quantities of rat poison can lead to severe complications like seizures, arrhythmia, kidney failure, blood clotting disorders, and even death.

In 2021 two boys aged seven and eight in Dong Nai Province ingested rat poison thinking it was syrup. The eight-year-old died tragically.

In 2020 a 17-month-old in Lao Cai Province had a seizure, fell into a coma and died after consuming rice contaminated with rat poison.

Emergency medical care is imperative if a child accidentally consumes pesticides.