Pediatria pre prax 1/2014

Drug poisoning in children

Drug poisoning is the most common reason for consultation with the Toxicological Information Center (TIS) in children as well as adults. Poisoning in children younger than five years of age is most frequently caused by accident and medication error. In adolescents, it occurs mainly due to suicide attempts, predominantly in girls. Severe poisoning in infants, toddlers, and preschoolers is rare. In numerous situations, visit to a doctor is not necessary after consulting the TIS. In the case of exposure to toxic doses of drugs, primary drug elimination (prior to absorption); symptomatic treatment; sporadically antidotes; and rarely methods of secondary elimination (following absorption) of drugs are applied. In terms of preventing drug poisoning in children, awareness campaigns by health workers are of importance since drug poisoning in children can almost invariably be prevented, with the vast majority of cases being unnecessary.

Keywords: drug poisoning, emesis, gastric lavage, whole bowel irrigation, antidotes, enhanced elimination.