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Implications of diphenhydramine single-dose unintended ingestions in young children

Sasko D Stojanovski1, S David Baker, Marcel J Casavant

  • 1College of Pharmacy, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.

Pediatric Emergency Care
|August 2, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Single unintended diphenhydramine ingestions in young children rarely cause severe symptoms. Most exposures are unintentional and occur in toddlers, with no clear link between dose and symptom severity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Toxicology
  • Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

  • Diphenhydramine is commonly used in children.
  • The effects of single, unintended diphenhydramine exposures in young children are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the outcomes of single unintended diphenhydramine ingestions in children.
  • To determine the relationship between ingested dose and symptom severity.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System for 2000-2001.
  • Inclusion criteria focused on children with diphenhydramine ingestions.

Main Results:

  • 926 cases met inclusion criteria; 49.1% were male, mean age 29.7 months.
  • 85% of unintentional exposures occurred in children aged 1-3 years.
  • 32% of patients experienced symptoms (minor, moderate, severe); no dose-severity relationship was found, even at doses >= 7.5 mg/kg.

Conclusions:

  • The ingested dose of diphenhydramine did not significantly correlate with the severity of symptoms in pediatric exposures.
  • Unintended diphenhydramine ingestions in young children are generally associated with minor or no symptoms.
Abstract

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