Abstract

SILVA, António Vinhas da; LEITE, Ana Luísa; GUEDES, Raquel  and  TAVARES, Hugo B. Acute Alcohol Intoxication in a Paediatric Emergency Department: a 3-year review. Arq Med [online]. 2012, vol.26, n.2, pp.59-62. ISSN 2183-2447.

Introduction: Alcohol intoxication is common in our society, being an emergent problem between teenagers.The aim of this study is to determine the profile of the patients’ admitted in the paediatric emergency department following acute ethanol intoxication. Methods: Retrospective study of patients admitted to the the emergency department with acute ethanol intoxication over a 3 year period (2007 - 2009). Results: A total of 60 teenagers were included (2007 - 12; 2008 - 20; 2009 - 28). Median age of 15,0 years (P_25-75: 14,0-16,0), with a mild predominance of girls in early ages (? - 15,0; P_25-75: 14,0-15,0 vs ? - 15,5; P_25-75: 15,0-16,0; p=0,003). The majority occurred during the night (65,0%) and on holiday days (58,3%). The drinks of high graduation were the most ingested. Concomitant cannabis use was detected in 3 patients. Hypothermia was detected in five cases and two developed severe hypotension. Forty two patients needed hospital admission. Since 2009, the majority has been evaluated in an Adolescent Outpatient Clinic on discharge. Conclusions: The profile of the patient who arrives to emergency department with acute ethanol intoxication is a teenager who is seen on holiday’s nights, after a consumption of high graduation alcoholic drinks. Despite of the rarity of serious acute complications, an increase in the number of acute ethanol intoxication episodes in paediatric age is notorious and worrying.

Keywords : Acute alcohol intoxication; teenager.

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