Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 3, 2026

Handheld Metal Detector Screening for Metallic Foreign Body Ingestion in Children
04:55

Handheld Metal Detector Screening for Metallic Foreign Body Ingestion in Children

Published on: September 11, 2018

11.2K

Acute medication poisoning causing hospital admissions in childhood: a 3-year prospective observational single-center

P Matalová1, M Poruba, M Wawruch

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University in Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic. urbanek@fnol.cz.

Physiological Research
|November 23, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Acute medication poisoning in children is a significant concern, particularly among toddlers. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), especially ibuprofen, are the most common culprits in these pediatric poisoning cases.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Toxicology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Medication poisoning in children is understudied, with most research focusing on broader xenobiotic exposures.
  • Existing literature often emphasizes alcohol intoxications over pharmaceutical ingestions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the incidence and characteristics of acute medication poisoning among pediatric hospital admissions.
  • To identify common agents, demographic factors, and outcomes associated with childhood medication poisonings.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective recording of all hospital admissions over a three-year period.
  • Evaluation of patients under 19 years old admitted for acute drug intoxications.
  • Analysis of demographic data, causative agents, route of exposure, and outcomes.

Main Results:

  • 55 out of 15,069 pediatric admissions were for acute medication poisoning.
  • Poisoning was more prevalent in girls (72.7%) and toddlers (36.4%).
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), particularly ibuprofen, were the most frequent agents (20%). Accidental poisonings were highest in 1-3 year olds, while suicide attempts were noted in adolescents.

Conclusions:

  • Acute medication poisoning represents a notable cause of pediatric hospitalizations, with NSAIDs being a primary concern.
  • Understanding demographic trends and common agents is crucial for targeted prevention strategies.
  • Ongoing research with an expanded ten-year cohort aims to further elucidate these pediatric poisoning patterns.

More Related Videos

Event Related Potentials ERPs and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD10:02

Event Related Potentials ERPs and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD

Published on: March 12, 2020

16.5K
Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis05:52

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis

Published on: November 21, 2013

15.3K

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
206
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...
156
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

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...
177
Prevention of Further Absorption of Poison01:14

Prevention of Further Absorption of Poison

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...
1.2K
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

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...
218
Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview01:21

Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview

When it comes to infants and young children, they are typically administered smaller doses of medication in comparison to adults. This is primarily because their organ functions still need to fully develop, meaning their bodies are not as efficient at metabolizing or eliminating drugs. Additionally, their blood-brain barrier is more permeable than in adults. As a result, high concentrations of drugs can easily penetrate the central nervous system (CNS), potentially leading to neurological...
2.8K