© 2002 Archives of Disease in Childhood
LEADING ARTICLE
Poisoning
Poisoning in children 3: Common medicines
1 Department of Pediatrics, Yale University Medical School, USA
2 Department of General Paediatrics, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
3 Accident and Emergency Department, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Birmingham, UK
Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr K Berry, Accident and Emergency Department, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham B4 6NH, UK;
kathleen.berry@bhamchildrens.wmids.nhs.uk
A wide variety of medicines are ingested by children
Keywords: poisoning
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
In this, the third of a series of articles on the management of poisoning, we deal with medicines commonly ingested by children.
Proprietary preparations for the treatment of coughs, colds, and nasal congestion are frequently ingested accidentally. Most preparations (75%) are made up of more than one active ingredient.
Sympathomimetic agents make up the largest group of ingredients. Their effects in overdose vary widely between agents. Individual susceptibility is also variable. Adverse effects are unusual and occur fairly soon after ingestion. Severe cases are associated with hypertension, reflex bradycardia, arrhythmias, convulsions, and coma. Treatment is supportive.
Paracetamol and aspirin make up the second biggest group of ingredients. Their presence should not be overlooked as measurement of blood concentration may be required, depending on the dose consumed.
Opioid analgesics are found in a number of preparations. Dextromethorphan is most frequently encountered. It has a low toxic potential and only produces
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