Abstract
IntroductionAcute pediatric poisoning is an emerging health and social problem. The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics of a large pediatric cohort exposed to xenobiotics, through the analysis of a Pediatric Poison Control Center (PPCc) registry.MethodsThis study, conducted in the Pediatric Hospital Bambino Gesù of Rome, a reference National Pediatric Hospital, collected data of children whose parents or caregivers contacted the PPCc by phone (group “P”), or who presented to the Emergency Department (group “ED”), during the three-year period 2014–2016. Data were prospectively and systematically collected in a pre-set electronic registry. Comparisons among age groups were performed and multivariable logistic regression models used to investigate associations with outcomes (hospital referral for “P”, and hospital admission for “ED”group).ResultsWe collected data of 1611 children on group P and 1075 on group ED. Both groups were exposed to both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical agents. Pharmaceutical agent exposure increased with age and the most common route of exposure was oral. Only 10% among P group were symptomatic children, with gastrointestinal symptoms. Among the ED patients, 30% were symptomatic children mostly with gastrointestinal (55.4%) and neurologic symptoms (23.8%). Intentional exposure (abuse substance and suicide attempt), which involved 7.7% of patients, was associated with older age and Hospital admission.ConclusionsOur study describes the characteristics of xenobiotics exposures in different paediatric age groups, highlighting the impact of both pharmacological and intentional exposure. Furthermore, our study shows the utility of a specific PPCc, either through Phone support or by direct access to ED. PPCc phone counselling could avoid unnecessary access to the ED, a relevant achievement, particularly in the time of a pandemic.
Highlights
Acute pediatric poisoning is an emerging health and social problem
– Group P: 1611 children whose parents or caregivers needed phone counselling by contacting the PPCc by phone call (PPCcP), among these 120 patients were visited in our ED (Subgroup PED, part of group “ED”)
The total number of children admitted to our ED over the described period was 237.323, children admitted for exposure to xenobiotics were 0.45%
Summary
Acute pediatric poisoning is an emerging health and social problem. The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics of a large pediatric cohort exposed to xenobiotics, through the analysis of a Pediatric Poison Control Center (PPCc) registry. Poisoning is a common and potentially life-threatening public health problem, which contributes to the added costs of both emergency and in-patient care. The aim of this study was to analyze the characteristics of a paediatric population exposed to xenobiotics, recorded over a three-year period by the Paediatric Poison Control Centre (PPCc) of the National referenced Children Hospital in Italy. The PPCc provides support to families of poisoned paediatric patients requiring counselling through an active phone line, which is accessible by parents and primary care/hospital physicians, or by providing direct access to the Emergency Department
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