Deliberate self poisonings in children and adolescents--a frightening scourge.
Paediatricians may be called on to see a suicidal child or adolescent in the emergency department as a psychiatric consultation is not always immediately available. The paediatrician will then play a pivotal role in the evaluation and disposition of the patient.(1) American reports have shown that 8% of high school students have made a suicidal attempt and that 2% had made an attempt that required medical attention.(2) Suicidal attempts account for 12% of all emergency department visits for the adolescent age group.(3) In the U.K. overdoses account for 4.7% of all general hospital admission in those aged 12-20 years. (4) In Republic of Ireland the most recent national vital statistics data revealed that over a period of one year July'97 - July '98, more than 650 children and adolescents were admitted to hospital with the deliberate self poisoning. The female to male ratio was 3:1.(7)
Asady
M A
MA
Paediatric Department, Waterford Regional, Hospital, Republic of Ireland. draasady@attcanada.ca
Cosgrove
J F
JF
MacMahon
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000506:poisoning; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D004366:Nonprescription Drugs