Trends and toxic effects from pediatric XXXX exposures.

@entity1 @entity1168 @entity1576 @entity1338 @entity551 @entity1445
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the trends, demographics, and toxic effects associated with pediatric @entity1338 exposures reported to poison centers. DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING AND @entity1 : @entity1338 -only exposures followed up to known outcome in @entity1 younger than 19 years reported to the American Association of Poison Control Center's database from January 1, 1993, through December 31, 1999. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency of exposures over time, acuity, reason, symptoms, management site, treatment, and outcome. RESULTS: There were 10 060 reported exposures with 57% reported for @entity1 younger than 6 years, 34% for @entity1 between 6 and 12 years old, and 9% for adolescents between 13 and 18 years old. In 1999 there were 2.5 times as many exposures as in 1993. In 6- through 12-year-olds, @entity1338 was the @entity1 's medication in 35% of the exposures, compared with 10% in @entity1 younger than 6 years and 26% in adolescents. The proportion of cases involving the @entity1 's medication increased over 7 years. While unintentional @entity1445 was most common in @entity1 younger than 6 years, therapeutic errors and suicide attempts predominated in 6- through 12-year-olds and adolescents, respectively. In 6042 symptomatic @entity1 (60%), the most common symptoms were lethargy (80%), @entity1168 (17%), @entity551 (15%), and @entity1576 (5%). Most exposures resulted in no effect (40%) or minor effects (39%). Moderate effects occurred in 1907 @entity1 (19%), major effects in 230 @entity1 (2%); there was 1 fatality in a 23-month-old. CONCLUSIONS: While most of the @entity1338 exposures resulted in minimal toxic effects, serious toxic effects and death can occur. The trend toward increasing the number of exposures in @entity1 , especially with evidence of toxic effects in @entity1 receiving @entity1338 therapeutically, is cause for concern.
