Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 22, 2026
06:59
A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings
Published on: November 9, 2016
31.5K
Pediatric Ingestions: Emergency Department Management
Stacy M Tarango Md1, Deborah R Liu Md2
1Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physician, Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital, Spokane, WA.
Pediatric Emergency Medicine Practice
|April 23, 2016
Summary
Pediatric ingestions, especially of medications and foreign bodies, pose a significant risk to young children. This review covers current guidelines for emergency evaluation and management of these common, potentially serious exposures.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Clinical Toxicology
- Poison Control
Background:
- Pediatric ingestions are a frequent emergency department (ED) presentation, with over 50,000 children under 5 years old annually seeking care for unintentional medication exposure.
- Poison control centers receive nearly half of their calls for children under 6 years old.
- Ingestion of magnetic objects and button batteries is a growing cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current evidence and consensus guidelines for the evaluation and management of common pediatric ingestions.
- To provide clinicians with updated recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of pediatric poisoning and foreign body ingestion.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing case reports and retrospective studies on pediatric ingestions.
- Inclusion of consensus guidelines for resuscitation, diagnosis, and treatment.
- Discussion of decontamination, antidote administration, and foreign body management strategies.
Main Results:
- Opioids, sedative/hypnotics, and cardiovascular drugs are the prescription medications most frequently associated with pediatric injury and fatality.
- Evidence base for management largely relies on case reports and retrospective data.
- Consensus guidelines offer a framework for initial resuscitation, diagnosis, and treatment.
Conclusions:
- Effective management of pediatric ingestions requires a thorough understanding of common toxins and foreign bodies.
- Current evidence supports specific guidelines for decontamination, antidotes, and foreign body removal.
- This review synthesizes available data to aid emergency clinicians in managing these critical pediatric cases.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Prevention of Further Absorption of Poison
1.4K
In cases of acute poisoning, the primary objective is to prevent further absorption of the toxic substance into the body. Immediate interventions using various decontamination techniques targeting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract can achieve this. Decontamination is crucial to prevent poison from entering the systemic circulation, which involves washing affected areas with water and mild soap and removing contaminated clothing. Once external decontamination is done, attention must be turned to...
1.4K
01:26Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Treatment Strategies
141
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...
141
01:18Drug Delivery: Enteral Route
2.4K
The enteral drug administration involves three primary routes: oral, sublingual, and buccal. Oral ingestion is the most prevalent, safe, economical, and convenient method for drug administration. However, it has certain drawbacks, including limited absorption due to the drug's low water solubility or poor membrane permeability, possible emesis from GI mucosa irritation, destruction of drugs by digestive enzymes or low gastric pH, and irregular absorption along with food or other drugs.
2.4K
01:26Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios
74
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...
74
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
713
Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
713
01:26Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
368
In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
368