Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Pediatric toxicology.

David L Eldridge1, Jason Van Eyk, Chad Kornegay

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA. eldridged@ecu.edu

Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America
|May 8, 2007
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Students' Research Experiences at DO-Granting and MD-Granting US Medical Schools.

Medical science educator·2026
Same author

Increasing medical student participation in scholarly publications at a primary care-focused medical school.

Medical teacher·2025
Same author

Publication of Medical Student Summer Research: A Multi-institutional Analysis.

Medical science educator·2025
Same author

Pediatric Toxicology.

Emergency medicine clinics of North America·2022
Same author

Implications of the new lead screening recommendations in North Carolina.

North Carolina medical journal·2013
Same author

Alternatives to intravenous rehydration in dehydrated pediatric patients with difficult venous access.

Pediatric emergency care·2010
Same journal

Why Dispelling Myths and Misconceptions in Emergency Medicine Matters.

Emergency medicine clinics of North America·2026
Same journal

Myths and Misconceptions in Emergency Medicine.

Emergency medicine clinics of North America·2026
Same journal

Acute Otitis Media-Watch and Wait Is Not a Myth.

Emergency medicine clinics of North America·2026
Same journal

Hot or Not? Myths and Misconceptions About Antipyretics for Pediatric Fever.

Emergency medicine clinics of North America·2026
Same journal

Epinephrine Improves Outcomes in Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrests.

Emergency medicine clinics of North America·2026
Same journal

Myth: Pretreatment Prevents Intravenous Contrast Reactions in the Emergency Department.

Emergency medicine clinics of North America·2026
See all related articles

Pediatric medical toxicology requires vigilance for potent medications even in small doses. Clinicians must also consider laxative or ipecac syrup misuse in specific patient groups and evaluate activated charcoal for prehospital decontamination.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Medical Toxicology
  • Clinical Pharmacology
  • Emergency Medicine

Background:

  • Pediatric patients have unique toxicological profiles, necessitating specialized clinical considerations.
  • Certain medications pose significant risks to children even at minute exposure levels.
  • Misuse of common gastrointestinal agents like laxatives and syrup of ipecac can occur in pediatric populations, particularly in cases of Munchausen syndrome by proxy and eating disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight critical considerations in pediatric medical toxicology.
  • To discuss the potential misuse of over-the-counter gastrointestinal medications in children.
  • To review the literature on activated charcoal for prehospital gastrointestinal decontamination as an alternative to syrup of ipecac.

Main Methods:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Literature review examining the risks of specific medications in pediatric ingestions.
  • Discussion of the potential for misuse of laxatives and syrup of ipecac in pediatric patients with gastrointestinal complaints of uncertain origin.
  • Analysis of studies on the efficacy and safety of activated charcoal for prehospital gastrointestinal decontamination.

Main Results:

  • Medicines can be dangerous to children in very small amounts, demanding clinician caution.
  • Laxatives and syrup of ipecac may be misused in Munchausen syndrome by proxy and eating disorders, requiring consideration in unexplained GI illnesses.
  • Activated charcoal is being explored as a prehospital decontamination method due to declining use of syrup of ipecac.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric medical toxicology requires heightened awareness of medication dangers and potential substance misuse.
  • The role of activated charcoal in prehospital settings warrants further investigation as a decontamination strategy.
  • Clinical vigilance is essential when managing pediatric gastrointestinal illnesses with uncertain etiologies.