CHSJ

Curr Health Sci J, vol. 35, no. 4, 2009

Epidemiological-Clinical Study on the Acute Ethylic Alcohol Intoxications in Children

[Original paper]

C. SINGER(1), P. STANCU(1), S. COSOVEANU(1), L. OSIAC(1), E. APOSTU(1), L. NICA(1), A. BOTU(1)


(1)Department of Pediatrics, Emergency County Hospital Craiova University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Craiova


Abstract:

Methodology. An epidemiological-clinical study was carried out on the acute ethylic alcohol intoxications (AEAI) in the children, aged 0-16 years, admitted to the 2nd Pediatric Clinic of the Emergency County Hospital in Craiova, between 1.01.2000 and 31.12.2007. Results. During the 8 years of study, there were admitted 119 children with AEAI; 98 (82.4%) were voluntary and 21 (17.6%) accidental (in children under 7 years). The group structure – in children with accidental intoxications: M/F= 12/9, U/R= 9/12; in children with voluntary intoxications: M/F= 69/29, U/R= 67/31, age group (years): 1-7= 21, 7-10= 13, 10-14= 46, >14= 39 cases. The type of ingested alcohol: wine 32 cases, plum brandy 20, beer 16, liquor/ cognac/ cherry brandy each in 7 cases, whisky 3, gin 2, cocktail 21, combinations with other toxic products: alcohol + glues/ varnish/ diazepam in 4 cases. The clinical manifestations in children with accidental intoxications: sleepiness in 11 cases, vomiting in 10, alcohol smell in 8, walking and speaking disorders in 4, unrest in 3, hypothermia in 3, coma in 5 cases; in children with voluntary intoxications: vomiting in 47, alcohol smell in 40, sleepiness in 33, walking and speaking disorders in 34, unrest in 15, euphoria in 2, aggressiveness in 1, Mallory-Weiss syndrome in 1 case, coma in 39. Conclusions. More than 2/3 of the AEAI were voluntary. The accidental intoxications prevailed in M (61.1%), in R (61.1%) and they belonged to the age group 1-7 years. The most frequent clinical manifestations were: sleepiness, vomiting, alcohol smell. The voluntary acute intoxications were more frequent in M (71%), in U (68%) and in the age group 10-14 years (46%). The most frequent clinical manifestations were: vomiting, alcohol smell, and coma. The alcoholic coma was present in 23.8% in accidental intoxications and in 39.8% of the voluntary intoxications.


Keywords: acute intoxications, ethylic alcohol, children



Corresponding: Senior Lecturer Singer Cristina, Ph.D., Department of Pediatrics, Emergency County Hospital Craiova University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Craiova, 1, Tabaci Street, Craiova, mendelson.ltd@gmail.com


DOI 10.12865/CHSJ.35.04.05 - Download PDF
current issue cover Download cover
Download contents

Journal archive