Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Partial Lobular Hepatectomy: A Surgical Model for Morphologic Liver Regeneration
05:37

Partial Lobular Hepatectomy: A Surgical Model for Morphologic Liver Regeneration

Published on: May 31, 2018

Is chronic poisoning with acetaminophen in children a frequent occurrence in Toronto?

B Bailey1, A Lalkin, B M Kapur

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Hôpital Sainte-Justine, 3175 Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1C5, Canada. baileyb@poste.umontreal.ca

The Canadian Journal of Clinical Pharmacology = Journal Canadien De Pharmacologie Clinique
|August 9, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Chronic acetaminophen poisoning is rare in Canadian children, unlike in the US. Most pediatric acetaminophen overdoses are acute and intentional, primarily affecting adolescents, not young children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Toxicology
  • Clinical Pharmacology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Acetaminophen overdose is a significant concern in children.
  • American studies highlight risks of chronic poisoning from therapeutic errors.
  • This study investigates chronic acetaminophen poisoning in Canadian children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the frequency of chronic acetaminophen poisoning in Canadian children.
  • To compare findings with existing American research on pediatric acetaminophen toxicity.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of pediatric patients admitted for acetaminophen overdose.
  • Study period: January 1, 1990, to June 30, 1996.
  • Inclusion criteria: Patients admitted to The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto.

Main Results:

  • Only four preschool children (under five) were admitted; one had possible chronic poisoning.
  • Most cases involved adolescents with acute intentional overdoses (102/110).
  • Hepatotoxicity occurred in 21% of adolescents treated with N-acetylcysteine; none required liver transplant or died.

Conclusions:

  • Chronic acetaminophen poisoning, including therapeutic errors, is uncommon in Toronto children.
  • Acute intentional overdoses in adolescents are the predominant form of acetaminophen poisoning in this population.
  • Findings contrast with US reports, suggesting regional differences in pediatric acetaminophen toxicity patterns.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Generation of a Rat Model of Acute Liver Failure by Combining 70% Partial Hepatectomy and Acetaminophen09:44

Generation of a Rat Model of Acute Liver Failure by Combining 70% Partial Hepatectomy and Acetaminophen

Published on: November 27, 2019

Inducing Acute Liver Injury in Rats via Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl4) Exposure Through an Orogastric Tube06:12

Inducing Acute Liver Injury in Rats via Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl4) Exposure Through an Orogastric Tube

Published on: April 28, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Types of Toxins01:36

Types of Toxins

Humans continually engage with an environment rich in potentially harmful chemicals. These are introduced to our bodies through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. These chemicals exist in various forms, such as air and environmental pollutants, agricultural chemicals, organic solvents, and heavy metals.
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Toxic Reactions: Overview01:26

Toxic Reactions: Overview

When toxic substances penetrate the human body, they disseminate to various tissues, undergoing metabolic changes. This process yields reactive metabolites that may covalently bind with specific target molecules, resulting in toxicity.
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions01:24

Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions

Drug toxicities can be stratified into pharmacological, pathological, or genotoxic based on their mechanisms. The incidence and severity of these toxicities generally increase with the drug's concentration in the body and exposure time.Pharmacological toxicity is evident when the therapeutic effects of drugs overshoot into adverse reactions in a predictable, dose-dependent manner. Central nervous system (CNS) depression from barbiturates is a classic example, with effects escalating from...
Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios01:26

Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios

Pharmaceutical poisoning can occur through various channels, impacting an estimated 2 million hospitalized patients in the U.S. annually with serious adverse drug responses. These scenarios encompass both therapeutic uses, such as drug toxicity, where even standard dosages can lead to severe central nervous system depression, and non-therapeutic exposures, including accidental ingestion by children, and environmental and occupational exposures.Unintentional poisonings often involve exploratory...
Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Treatment Strategies01:26

Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Treatment Strategies

Treatment strategies for poisoning are a critical aspect of emergency medicine, focusing on preventing the absorption of toxins and enhancing their elimination. When a poisoning incident occurs, the first response is to halt exposure and decontaminate the patient, particularly through gastrointestinal (GI) methods if the poison was ingested.Gastrointestinal Decontamination Techniques:Activated charcoal is the cornerstone of GI decontamination. It works through adsorption, binding the toxin to...