Poisoning exposures and use of ipecac in children less than 1 year old

• Published in: Annals of emergency medicine Vol. 15; no. 7; pp. 808 - 810
• Main Authors: Gaudreault, Pierre, McCormick, Mary A, Lacouture, Peter G, Lovejoy, Frederick H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.07.1986; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment; ipecac; ipecac and poisonings; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous (drug allergy, mutagens, teratogens...); pediatric age group; pediatrics; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; poisonings; ipecac; pediatric age group; ipecac and poisonings; poisonings; pediatrics; Human; Infant; Efficiency; Toxicity; Oral administration; Emetic
• ISSN: 0196-0644; 1097-6760
• DOI: 10.1016/S0196-0644(86)80378-X

Poison exposures in children less than 1 year old and the safety and efficacy of syrup of ipecac in children 9 to 12 months old were evaluated in a prospective eight-month study conducted at the Massachusetts Poison Control Center. Poison exposures in children less than 1 year old represented approximately 9% of the 38,080 calls received. Mobile children (in walkers, crawling, or walking) were at the greatest risk of poisoning. The majority of children (94%) were asymptomatic and none were hospitalized or died. The products involved were primarily plants (38%) and household products (30%). All 21 patients, ages 9 to 12 months, were given 10 mL syrup of ipecac under medical supervision and vomited within one hour. The mean time to vomit was 21.7 (SEM ± 2.8) minutes. The patients vomited 3.3 (SEM ± 0.3) times and all episodes of vomiting abated by 26.4 (SEM ± 6.6) minutes. No significant side effects were noted. The use of the syrup of ipecac in the 9- to 12-month-old child appears to be safe and effective.