title: Toxicology surveillance system of the Spanish Society of Paediatric Emergencies: first-year analysis.
abstract: We aim to describe the characteristics and the management of the paediatric poisonings registered in the Toxicology Surveillance System created by the Intoxications Working Group of the Spanish Society of Paediatric Emergencies. We reviewed 130 episodes registered during 1 year. The main involved substances were drugs (73, 56.2%), household products (24,18.5%) and ethanol (16, 12.3%). Most common mechanisms were accidental poisonings at home in children of less than 5 years (91, 70%; principally, paracetamol or anticatharrals) and patients of 12-18 years (24.6%), with recreational alcohol consumption or suicide attempt. Approximately 10% received prehospital treatment and 56.9% received treatment in the paediatric emergency department (PED), which mainly activated charcoal. Approximately 50% were managed as outpatients, and all did well. Although intoxications are infrequent in PED and the short-term prognosis is good, the consumption of healthcare resources is high.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Emergency, Cruces Hospital, Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain. beatriz.azcunagasantibanez@osakidetza.net
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Azkunaga
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mintegi
authors.forename: Irati
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bizkarra
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernández
mesh_terms: D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014116:Toxicology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*