Intoxicación por medicamentos en pacientes pediátricos atendidos en un Hospital terciario en Honduras

• Published in: Revista médica hondureña Vol. 91, No. 2; pp. 100 - 105
• Main Authors: Daniela Bezaí Morales Santos, Scheybi Teresa Miralda Méndez
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Colegio Médico de Honduras 01.12.2023
• Subjects: drug overdose; pediatrics; poisoning; toxicity
• ISSN: 0375-1112; 1995-7068
• DOI: 10.5377/rmh.v91i2.16526

Background: Pediatric poisonings associated with medications represent an important burden for public health sys-tems. Objective: To characterize pediatric patients with drug in-toxication, Pediatric Emergency Department, Hospital Escuela, Tegucigalpa, 2019-2021. Methods: Descriptive observational study. Clinical records of pediatric patients attended for drug intoxication were reviewed. The results are presented as tables and figures of frequencies and percentages of the variables studied. Personal information was handled confidentially. Results: Seventy-six cases were identified. The hospital proportion of pediatric patients treated for drug poisoning during the study period was 0.08% (76/94,568). Mean age 12.6 years (SD+/-5.0). Female sex 77.6% (59/76), ori-gin Francisco Morazán 84.2% (64/76); and from a marginal urban environment 55.3% (42/76). The level of schooling was incomplete secondary school 67.1% (51/76). In addition to the diagnosis of drug intoxication, the diagnoses of suicide attempt and depressive disor-der were identified 76.3% (58/76), each one. The intoxication was acute 97.4% (74/76), intentional 76.3% (58/76). The drug source was patient's medication 44.7% (34/76). The place where the event occurred was at the patient's home/domicile 96.1% (73/76), clon-azepam was used in 30.3% (23), a drug belonging to the benzo-diazepine group.There were no deaths. Discussion: The pediatric patient attended at the Teaching Hospital for drug intoxication was characterized as a female adolescent, with access to benzodiaze-pine-type drugs at home, related to depression and suicide attempt.It is recommended that studies be carried out to identify risk factors. It is necessary to create public policies that contribute to implement a comprehensive approach to children, adolescents and the family.