Amoxicillin overdose in the pediatric emergency department: A descriptive study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Clinical Toxicology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Amoxicillin is a widely prescribed antibiotic for pediatric infections.
• Overdosing can occur accidentally or intentionally, necessitating emergency department evaluation.
• Understanding the characteristics and outcomes of amoxicillin overdosing in children is crucial for clinical management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the clinical characteristics of pediatric patients presenting to the emergency department following amoxicillin overdosing.
• To identify the circumstances, manifestations, and management of amoxicillin overdose in children.
• To evaluate the safety and outcomes of amoxicillin overdosing in a pediatric population.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective, single-center observational study was conducted.
• Data was collected from pediatric patients (0-16 years) treated for amoxicillin overdose between 2011 and 2021.
• Information gathered included demographics, ingestion details, clinical presentation, and emergency department management.

Main Results:

• Fifteen pediatric patients were included, with a median age of 3.8 years; 66.6% were male.
• Accidental ingestion was the most common cause (53.3%), with amoxicillin typically ingested in liquid form.
• All patients remained asymptomatic, with normal physical examinations and laboratory tests; all were discharged home.

Conclusions:

• Amoxicillin overdosing in pediatric patients, even at significantly exceeded doses, did not result in apparent adverse effects in this cohort.
• The study suggests a favorable safety profile for amoxicillin overdose in children.
• Further research could explore long-term outcomes and specific risk factors, if any.