An Emergency Service Diagnosis in Childhood with an Increasing Trend Within Time: Alcohol Poisoning

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and demographic features of patients presentign to the pediatric emergency department with alcohol intoxication. Material and Methods: The hospital records of 43 pediatric patients (0-18 years old) who presented with alcohol intoxication between January 2006 and March 2011 were examined retrospectively. Results: During the study period, 43 pediatric patients were admitted to our emergency unit; thirty-two patients (74.4%) were male, 11(25.6%) were female. The mean age of the patients was 13.7 +/- 5.3 years (1 to 17 years). The reason of alcohol intoxication was excessive intake in 33 patients (76.7%), accidental intake in 7 patients (16.3%) and suicide attempt in 3 patients (7.0%). The median blood alcohol level was 127 (1-314) mg/dl. Poisoning severity score (PSS) was mild in 23 (53.5%) patients, moderate in 2 (4.7%) patients and severe in 3 (7.0%) patients. Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) was <= 8 in three (7.0%) cases. The most common symptoms and signs were nausea (48.8%), vomiting (46.5%), consciousness (7.0%) and hypothermia respectively. Three patients (7.0%) had a history for trauma. One patient had clinical findings of sexual abuse. Alcohol and illicit drug use was detected in two patients (4.7%). The mean follow-up period of the subjects was 16.1 +/- 7.1 hours. Intravenous fluid therapy was adminisered in forty-two (97.6%) patients and intravenous sodium bicarbonate in 1(2.3%) patient. Conclusion: Admissions to pediatric emergency services because of alcohol poisoning are increasing. Trauma, drug use, and psychiatric disorders may accompany this clinical picture.