[Retrospective analysis of toxicity of eardrops, topical nasal and oropharyngeal medicines, documented in São Paulo, Brazil].
BACKGROUND
Retrospective analysis of human toxicity files involving topical medicines for treatment of upper airways diseases (eardrops, topical nasal medicines, lozenges, drops and sprays for oropharyngeal affections).


METHODS
Thirty-four brands of eardrops, 48 of topical nasal medicines and 22 of tablets, lozenges and sprays for oropharyngeal affections were selected, from a total of 104 products available in Brazil. We analyzed the registries in the electronic database from the Poison Control Centre of São Paulo (CCI-Jabaquara), Brazil, for the period from January 1996 through December 2000. The cases related to selected pharmaceuticals were collected.


RESULTS
10,823 cases of human toxicity caused by medicines were voluntarily reported to CCI-Jabaquara. Topical medicines for treatment of upper airways diseases accounted for 291 cases (2.68%), from which 240 (82.5%) represented poisoning; 12 (4.1%) involved ear drops, 268 (92%), topical nasal medicines and 11 (3.9%), topical medicines for oropharyngeal affections. Among topical nasal medicines, vasoconstrictors predominated (233 cases), and among medicines for oropharyngeal affections, it was tetracaine (four cases). Considering age distribution, toxicity predominated significantly in children aged from 1 to 4 years (p=0.0003). The main causes of toxicity were: accidental intake of medicines (43%) and error in drug administration (14.8%). Hypereflexia and vomiting were the most frequent symptoms related to toxicity.


CONCLUSIONS
There was significant incidence of systemic toxicity due to eardrops, topical nasal and oropharyngeal medicines in children 1 to 4 years-old, whose main cause was accidental intake of these medicines.
Balbani
Aracy Pereira Silveira
AP
Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, UNESP, Botucatu, SP. a_balbani@hotmail.com
Duarte
Jurandir Godoy
JG
Montovani
Jair Cortez
JC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000506:poisoning*; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000506:poisoning*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000506:poisoning*; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010031:Otitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents