의도적 음독으로 응급실에 내원한 소아 청소년 환자들의 성별에 따른 특성 분석

• Published in: 대한임상독성학회지 Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 63 - 69
• Main Authors: 김윤재, Yun Jae Kim, 소병학, Byung Hak So, 김형민, Hyung Min Kim, 정원중, Won Jung Jeong, 차경만, Kyeong Man Cha, 김성욱, Seong Wook Kim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 대한임상독성학회 30.12.2014
• Subjects: Gender; Poisoning; Suicide; Suicide; Poisoning; Gender
• ISSN: 1738-1320; 2508-6332

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the difference between male and female in some clinically meaningful aspects and to prevent intentional poisoning in children and adolescents. Methods: Retrograde medical records review of patients who visited the emergency department of two secondary hospitals for drug ingestion from March 2010 through March 2013 was performed. Unintentional ingestion or ingestion by others was excluded. Results: A total of 138 cases were reported, male 25.4% (n=35), female 74.6% (n=103). The reason for poisoning was intentional in 132 cases (95.7%) and misuse in six cases (4.3%). In female patients, non-prescription drugs was the most common cause of intentional poisoning (68.9%). Male patients tend to use life substances for intentional poisoning more frequently (20.0%) than female (3.9%). Seven male patients and 12 female patients had previous psychiatric history and 34.3% of male and 41.7% of female were consulted to the psychiatric department. Conclusion: Female adolescents are more likely to ingest drugs intentionally for suicide attempt than males of comparable ages. The drugs they ingested were, in many cases, obtained with ease from the drug store nearby and, remarkably, most of the drugs they obtained in that way were acetaminophen-containing. This suggests that some guidelines or control in the pharmacy that restrict children or adolescents from obtaining potentially or possibly life-threatening drugs might be necessary. In addition, education regarding drugs is thought to be necessary in school for teenagers as they tend to misuse them with incorrect acknowledgement.