SEVERE ACUTE TOXIC EXPOSURES IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS: CASE SERIES

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe a case series of severe acute toxic exposures (SATE) in individuals 14yo (n=17; p<0.01). The involved agents were venomous animals (8; scorpions=5); medicines (8; miscellaneous=6); chemicals (6); illegal rodenticides containing acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (chumbinho, 4); drugs of abuse (3); button battery (1). Three patients evolved with sequels (esophageal stricture post-corrosive ingestion). The median length of hospital stay was 6 days (IQR: 5-12 days); 26 patients were treated in intensive care units, and 22 of them needed mechanical ventilation; 12, inotropic/vasopressors; and 3, renal replacement therapy. Conclusions: Scorpion stings and poisonings caused by medicines and chemicals were the main causes of SATE. The SATE were significantly more frequent in adolescents, due to deliberate self-poisoning.

Keywords

• Poison Control Center
• Poisoning
• Envenomation
• Pediatrics