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Intentional and accidental paracetamol poisoning in childhood - a retrospective analysis

Katarzyna Kominek1, Agnieszka Pawłowska-Kamieniak1, Agnieszka Mroczkowska-Juchkiewicz1

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Medical University of Lublin, Poland.

Postepy Higieny I Medycyny Doswiadczalnej (Online)
|April 22, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Paracetamol poisoning, particularly intentional cases, increased among children hospitalized between 2004-2012. This trend suggests a need to reconsider over-the-counter access to paracetamol for pediatric patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Toxicology
  • Pharmacovigilance
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is a widely accessible over-the-counter (OTC) analgesic and antipyretic.
  • Paracetamol overdose poses a significant risk of acute liver failure, especially in pediatric populations.
  • Understanding poisoning trends is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct a retrospective analysis of pediatric hospitalizations due to paracetamol poisoning.
  • To evaluate the trends and characteristics of paracetamol-related poisoning cases in children over a defined period.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective study of 44 pediatric patients hospitalized for paracetamol poisoning between 2004 and 2012.
  • Classification of poisoning cases into intentional, accidental, and overdose categories.
  • Analysis of patient demographics, focusing on age and gender.

Main Results:

  • A total of 44 pediatric patients were hospitalized for paracetamol poisoning (age range: 2.1-17.1 years).
  • Intentional poisonings constituted the majority (68.2%), followed by accidental poisonings (22.7%) and overdoses (9.1%).
  • Females comprised a significant majority (93.3%) of all analyzed cases.

Conclusions:

  • Paracetamol intoxication can occur from single or daily dose exceedance, particularly in intentional poisonings or for managing severe pain/fever.
  • An increasing trend in paracetamol poisoning, especially intentional cases, was observed during the study period.
  • The unrestricted availability of paracetamol as an OTC medication warrants reconsideration due to rising poisoning incidents in children.
Abstract

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