Implications of diphenhydramine single-dose unintended ingestions in young children.
BACKGROUND
Diphenhydramine is frequently used in children, but the consequences of single unintended dose exposures in young children are unknown.


METHODS
We evaluated 2000-2001 American Association of Poison Control Centers-Toxic Exposure Surveillance data on children exposed to diphenhydramine ingestions.


RESULTS
Nine hundred twenty-six cases met the inclusion criteria; 49.1% were men, mean age was 29.7 +/- 13.0 months (range, 1-72 months). Approximately 85% of unintentional exposures occurred in 1- to 3-year-old children. The mean dose ingested was 6.4 +/- 6.1 mg/kg (median, 4.6 mg/kg). Thirty-two percent of patients were symptomatic: minor (29.4%), moderate (2.9%), and severe (0.11%). There was no relationship between dose and symptom severity. Diphenhydramine dose ingestion of 7.5 mg/kg or greater was not a predictor of severity (P = 0.47)


CONCLUSIONS
The relationship between ingested dose and severity of symptoms was insignificant.
College of Pharmacy, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Sasko D
SD
Stojanovski
S David
SD
Baker
Marcel J
MJ
Casavant
John R
JR
Hayes
Renee F
RF
Robinson
Milap C
MC
Nahata
D017677:Age Distribution; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000506:poisoning*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004155:Diphenhydramine / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D011039:Poison Control Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D004155:Diphenhydramine