Intoxicación no intencionada por anticatarrales: medicamentos poco útiles y potencialmente tóxicos / Unintentional poisoning by cough and cold medications: Drugs with little usefulness and potential toxicity

Introducción: El uso de medicamentos para aliviar los síntomas del «resfriado común» en los niños es muy frecuente. A la falta de evidencia científica que avale su utilidad se suma la potencial toxicidad, habiéndose descrito intoxicaciones graves e incluso letales. El objetivo de este estudio es describir las características clínico-epidemiológicas de los pacientes atendidos en un servicio de urgencias pediátricas por sospecha de intoxicación no intencionada por anticatarrales. Material y métodos: Estudio analítico-observacional de los pacientes con edad inferior a 18 años atendidos en un servicio de urgencias pediátricas por sospecha de intoxicación no intencionada por un medicamento anticatarral, entre julio-2012 y junio-2020. Se clasificó la gravedad según el Poisoning Severity Score (PSS): PSS-0=sin toxicidad; PSS-1=toxicidad leve; PSS-2=moderada; PSS-3=grave; PSS-4=letal. Si la intoxicación se produjo en el transcurso de un tratamiento con el medicamento, se determinó si la edad del paciente estaba incluida en las indicaciones terapéuticas según ficha técnica. Resultados: Se recogieron 63 casos. Los medicamentos implicados fueron: anticongestivos y mucolíticos (31; 49,2%), antitusígenos (26; 41,2%), broncodilatadores orales (6; 9,5%). Se clasificaron según gravedad en: PSS-0=40 (63,5%), PSS-1=21 (33,3%), PSS-2=1 (1,6%) y PSS-3=1 (1,6%). En 29 pacientes (46%) existía antecedente de uso terapéutico; de estos, en 15 casos (51,7%) la edad del paciente era inferior a la recomendada en ficha técnica. En 14 pacientes (22,2%) la intoxicación se produjo por error en la dosis administrada por los cuidadores. Conclusión: Aunque la evidencia científica no recomienda medicamentos anticatarrales en niños, se siguen produciendo intoxicaciones no intencionadas por estos fármacos, en ocasiones moderadas o graves. (AU)

Introduction: The use of medications to relieve the symptoms of the “common cold” in children is very frequent. In addition to the lack of scientific evidence supporting its usefulness, there is evidence of potential toxicity, and serious and even fatal cases of intoxication have been described. The objective was to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the patients treated in a paediatric emergency department for suspected unintentional intoxication by a cold medicine. Material and methods: Observational and analytical study of patients aged less than 18 years managed in a paediatric emergency department for suspected unintentional poisoning by a cold medicine between July 2012 and June 2020. We classified severity according to the Poisoning Severity Score (PSS): PSS-0=no toxicity; PSS-1=mild toxicity; PSS-2=moderate; PSS-3=severe; PSS-4=lethal. If the intoxication occurred while the patient was in active treatment with the drug, we determined whether the patient's age was in the applicable range established in the therapeutic indications provided in the summary of product characteristics. Results: The study included data for 63 cases. The drugs involved were decongestants and mucolytics (31; 49.2%), antitussives (26; 41.2%) and oral bronchodilators (6; 9.5%). The distribution by severity was 40 cases with PSS-0 (63.5%), 21 with PSS-1 (33.3%), 1 with PSS-2 (1.6%) and 1 with PSS-3 (1.6%). In 29 patients (46.0%) there was a history of therapeutic use; in 15 of these cases (51.7%) the age was lower than recommended in the summary of product characteristics. In 14 patients (22.2%) the intoxication was due to administration of the wrong dose by caregivers. Conclusion: Although scientific evidence does not support the use of cold medicines in children, unintentional intoxications by these drugs keep happening, in some cases causing moderate or severe symptoms. (AU)

Unintentional poisoning by cough and cold medications: Drugs with little usefulness and potential toxicity.

INTRODUCTION: The use of medications to relieve the symptoms of the "common cold" in children is very frequent. In addition to the lack of scientific evidence supporting its usefulness, there is evidence of potential toxicity, and serious and even fatal cases of intoxication have been described. The objective was to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the patients treated in a paediatric emergency department (PED) for suspected unintentional intoxication by a cold medicine. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational and analytical study of patients aged less than 18 years managed in a PED for suspected unintentional poisoning by a cold medicine between July 2012 and June 2020. We classified severity according to the Poisoning Severity Score (PSS): PSS-0 = no toxicity; PSS-1 = mild toxicity; PSS-2 = moderate; PSS-3 = severe; PSS-4 = lethal. If the intoxication occurred while the patient was in active treatment with the drug, we determined whether the patient's age was in the applicable range established in the therapeutic indications provided in the summary of product characteristics. RESULTS: The study included data for 63 cases. The drugs involved were decongestants and mucolytics (31; 49.2%), antitussives (26; 41.2%) and oral bronchodilators (6; 9.5%). The distribution by severity was 40 cases with PSS-0 (63.5%), 21 with PSS-1 (33.3%), 1 with PSS-2 (1.6%) and 1 with PSS-3 (1.6%). In 29 patients (46.0%) there was a history of therapeutic use; in 15 of these cases (51.7%) the age was lower than recommended in the summary of product characteristics. In 14 patients (22.2%) the intoxication was due to administration of the wrong dose by caregivers. CONCLUSION: Although scientific evidence does not support the use of cold medicines in children, unintentional intoxications by these drugs keep happening, in some cases causing moderate or severe symptoms.

[Comparative analysis of the incidence of alcohol intoxication in adolescents in a pediatric emergency department.] / Análisis comparativo de la incidencia de intoxicaciones etílicas en adolescentes en un servicio de Urgencias pediátricas.

OBJECTIVE: A retrospective study (2007-2012) of acute alcohol intoxication (AAI) in the paediatric Emergency Department (ED) (Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona) demonstrated a decrease in the rates of AAI over the last two years. Aim: to determine if this decile continued during the following 5 years and to describe the profile and clinical management of these patients. METHODS: Descriptive, retrospective and observation study. Adolescents who presented to the ED (Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona) with AAI were included (2007-2017). Patients were classified in two groups: mil and moderate/severe; we compared the differences in the clinical management (monitoring of vital signs, lab test and treatment). We defined the AAI incidence rate: number of AAI every 1000 ED adolescent consultations/year. RESULTS: We included 836 AII, incidence rate: 7.7;2007, 8.5;2008, 6.6;2009, 7.8;2010, 6.4;2011, 6.4;2012, 4.8;2013, 4.6;2014, 5.5;2015, 4.8;2016 and 3.4;2017. The mean age was 15.9 (SD 1.2) years, 54.9% (459) were women. 54.5% had mild AAI, 45.4% moderate/severe. The temperature was taken to 607 patients, capillary blood glucose to 573 and blood pressure to 633. We found no differences in the monitoring of vital signs regardless of the symptoms of the patients. Patients with moderate/severe AAI underwent blood test more frequently than those with mild AAI (ethanol levels 88.2% vs 50.4%; p<0.001; electrolytes 81.2% vs 48%, p<0.001; glucose levels 64.4% vs 37.1%, p<0.001). Four hundred and twelve patients (49.3%) received fluid therapy. Twenty-two patients were admitted. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of AAI decreased over the last years. The profile of these patients remains unchanged (adolescents with moderate AAI during weekends). Even though lab test were performed more frequently to patients with moderate/severe AAI, clinical management should be improved by taking vital signs and capillary glycemia to all patients, keeping the blood analysis for moderate-severe AAI.

OBJETIVO: Una revisión retrospectiva (período 2007-2012) de las intoxicaciones etílicas agudas (IEA) en el Servicio de Urgencias Pediátrico (SUP) del Hospital San Joan de Déu, de Barcelona, evidenció un descenso de las visitas por IEA los últimos dos años. El objetivo de este trabajo fue comprobar si este descenso se había mantenido los 5 años posteriores, así como describir el perfil y manejo de estos pacientes. METODOS: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo y observacional. Se incluyeron consultas de adolescentes en el SUP del Hospital San Joan de Déu, de Barcelona, por IEA (período 2007-2017). Se dividieron los pacientes en IEA leve y moderada-grave. Se valoraron las diferencias en su manejo (toma de constantes, analítica y tratamiento.) Se definió la tasa de incidencia de IEA cada 1.000 visitas a Urgencias de adolescentes/año. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 836 IEA. Las tasas de incidencia por años fueron: 7,7% (2007); 8,5% (2008); 6,6% (2009); 7,8% (2010); 6,4% (2011); 6,4% (2012); 4,8% (2013); 4,6% (2014); 5,5% (2015); 4,8% (2016) y 3,4% (2017). La edad media fue de 15,9 (DE 1,2) años, siendo mujeres el 54,9%. Presentó IEA leve un 54,5% y moderada-grave un 45,4%. Se determinó temperatura a 607, glicemia capilar a 573 y tensión arterial a 633. No hubo diferencias significativas en la determinación de las tres constantes según la clínica de intoxicación. A los pacientes con IEA moderada-grave se les realizó analítica sanguínea con mayor frecuencia que a los de IEA leve (niveles de etanol del 88,2% frente al 50,4%; p<0,001 / EAB-ionograma del 81,2% contra el 48%, p<0,001 / glicemia venosa del 64,4% respecto al 37,1%, p<0,001). Se administró sueroterapia a 412 (49,3%). Precisaron ingreso 22 pacientes. CONCLUSIONES: La incidencia de IEA en SUP disminuye. Se mantiene el perfil de adolescentes (IEA moderadas el fin de semana). Aunque se realizó analítica con mayor frecuencia a los pacientes con IEA moderada, el manejo de las IAE presenta aspectos mejorables, debiendo preconizar la toma de constantes y la glicemia capilar en todos los pacientes, reservando la analítica para los pacientes moderados-graves.

Análisis comparativo de la incidencia de intoxicaciones etílicas en adolescentes en un servicio de urgencias pediátricas / Comparative analysis of the incidence of alcohol intoxication in adolescents in a pediatric emergency department

OBJETIVO: Una revisión retrospectiva (período 2007-2012) de las intoxicaciones etílicas agudas (IEA) en el Servicio de Urgencias Pediátrico (SUP) del Hospital San Joan de Déu, de Barcelona, evidenció un descenso de las visitas por IEA los últimos dos años. El objetivo de este trabajo fue comprobar si este descenso se había mantenido los 5 años posteriores, así como describir el perfil y manejo de estos pacientes. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo y observacional. Se incluyeron consultas de adolescentes en el SUP del Hospital San Joan de Déu, de Barcelona, por IEA (período 2007-2017). Se dividieron los pacientes en IEA leve y moderada-grave. Se valoraron las diferencias en su manejo (toma de constantes, analítica y tratamiento.) Se definió la tasa de incidencia de IEA cada 1.000 visitas a Urgencias de adolescentes/año. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 836 IEA. Las tasas de incidencia por años fueron: 7,7% (2007); 8,5% (2008); 6,6% (2009); 7,8% (2010); 6,4% (2011); 6,4% (2012); 4,8% (2013); 4,6% (2014); 5,5% (2015); 4,8% (2016) y 3,4% (2017). La edad media fue de 15,9 (DE 1,2) años, siendo mujeres el 54,9%. Presentó IEA leve un 54,5% y moderada-grave un 45,4%. Se determinó temperatura a 607, glicemia capilar a 573 y tensión arterial a 633. No hubo diferencias significativas en la determinación de las tres constantes según la clínica de intoxicación. A los pacientes con IEA moderada-grave se les realizó analítica sanguínea con mayor frecuencia que a los de IEA leve (niveles de etanol del 88,2% frente al 50,4%; p < 0,001 / EAB-ionograma del 81,2% contra el 48%, p < 0,001 / glicemia venosa del 64,4% respecto al 37,1%, p < 0,001). Se administró sueroterapia a 412 (49,3%). Precisaron ingreso 22 pacientes. CONCLUSIONES: La incidencia de IEA en SUP disminuye. Se mantiene el perfil de adolescentes (IEA moderadas el fin de semana). Aunque se realizó analítica con mayor frecuencia a los pacientes con IEA moderada, el manejo de las IAE presenta aspectos mejorables, debiendo preconizar la toma de constantes y la glicemia capilar en todos los pacientes, reservando la analítica para los pacientes moderados-graves

OBJECTIVE: A retrospective study (2007-2012) of acute alcohol intoxication (AAI) in the paediatric Emergency Department (ED) (Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona) demonstrated a decrease in the rates of AAI over the last two years. AIM: to determine if this decile continued during the following 5 years and to describe the profile and clinical management of these patients. METHODS: Descriptive, retrospective and observation study. Adolescents who presented to the ED (Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona) with AAI were included (2007-2017). Patients were classified in two groups: mil and moderate/severe; we compared the differences in the clinical management (monitoring of vital signs, lab test and treatment). We defined the AAI incidence rate: number of AAI every 1000 ED adolescent consultations/year. RESULTS: We included 836 AII, incidence rate: 7.7;2007, 8.5;2008, 6.6;2009, 7.8;2010, 6.4;2011, 6.4;2012, 4.8;2013, 4.6;2014, 5.5;2015, 4.8;2016 and 3.4;2017. The mean age was 15.9 (SD 1.2) years, 54.9% (459) were women. 54.5% had mild AAI, 45.4% moderate/severe. The temperature was taken to 607 patients, capillary blood glucose to 573 and blood pressure to 633. We found no differences in the monitoring of vital signs regardless of the symptoms of the patients. Patients with moderate/severe AAI underwent blood test more frequently than those with mild AAI (ethanol levels 88.2% vs 50.4%; p < 0.001; electrolytes 81.2% vs 48%, p < 0.001; glucose levels 64.4% vs 37.1%, p < 0.001). Four hundred and twelve patients (49.3%) received fluid therapy. Twenty-two patients were admitted. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of AAI decreased over the last years. The profile of these patients remains unchanged (adolescents with moderate AAI during weekends). Even though lab test were performed more frequently to patients with moderate/severe AAI, clinical management should be improved by taking vital signs and capillary glycemia to all patients, keeping the blood analysis for moderate-severe AAI

Aplicación del Shock Index como predictor de hemorragia en el paciente politraumático / The use of the Shock Index as a predictor of active bleeding in trauma patients

INTRODUCCIÓN: Las constantes vitales detectan la presencia de hemorragia al perder grandes cantidades de sangre, lo que comporta una gran morbimortalidad. El Shock Index (SI) es un parámetro que detecta el sangrado con puntos de corte de 0,9. El objetivo de este estudio es valorar si un punto de corte de ≥ 0,8 es más sensible para detectar sangrado oculto, permitiendo iniciar maniobras terapéuticas más precoces. MÉTODOS: Estudio analítico de validación del SI que incluye pacientes politraumatizados graves mayores de 16 años. Se registran constantes vitales y escalas predictivas de sangrado: SI, Assessment of Blood Consumption score y Pulse Rate Over Pressure score. Se analiza la relación del SI con 5 marcadores predictivos de sangrado: necesidad de transfusión masiva, embolización angiográfica, control del sangrado quirúrgico, muerte por shock hipovolémico y "sangrado activo" (presencia de al menos uno de los 4 marcadores anteriores en un paciente). RESULTADOS: Recogida prospectiva de datos de 1.402 pacientes politraumatizados durante 10 años. El Injury Severity Score medio fue de 20,9 (DE 15,8). Hubo una mortalidad del 10%. El SI medio fue de 0,73 (DE 0,29). En total presentaron "sangrado activo" el 18,7% de la serie. El SI medio en los pacientes con "sangrado activo" fue de 0,87, mientras que las constantes vitales estaban dentro de la normalidad. El área bajo la curva ROC del SI para el "sangrado activo" fue de 0,749. CONCLUSIONES: El SI con un punto de corte ≥ 0,8 es más sensible que aquel con el punto de corte ≥ 0,9 y permite iniciar maniobras de reanimación más precoces en los pacientes con sangrado oculto

INTRODUCTION: Vital signs indicate the presence of bleeding only after large amounts of blood have been lost, with high morbidity and mortality. The Shock Index (SI) is a hemorrhage indicator with a cut-off point for the risk of bleeding at 0.9. The aim of this study is to assess whether a cut-off of ≥ 0.8 is more sensitive for detecting occult bleeding, providing for early initiation of therapeutic maneuvers. METHODS: SI analytical validation study of severe trauma patients older than 16 years of age. Vital signs were recorded, and scales for predicting bleeding included: SI, Assessment of Blood Consumption score, and Pulse Rate Over Pressure score. The relationship between the SI and 5 markers for bleeding was analyzed: need for massive transfusion, angiographic embolization, surgical bleeding control, death due to hypovolemic shock, and the overall predictor "active bleeding" (defined as the presence of at least one of the 4 markers above). RESULTS: Data from 1.402 trauma patients were collected prospectively over a period of 10 years. The mean Injury Severity Score was 20.9 (SD 15.8). The mortality rate was 10%. The mean SI was 0.73 (SD 0.29). "Active bleeding" was present in 18.7% of patients. The SI area under the ROC curve for "active bleeding" was 0.749. CONCLUSIONS: An SI cut-off point ≥ 0.8 is more sensitive than ≥ 0.9 and allows for earlier initiation of resuscitation maneuvers in patients with occult active bleeding

The use of the Shock Index as a predictor of active bleeding in trauma patients. / Aplicación del Shock Index como predictor de hemorragia en el paciente politraumático.

INTRODUCTION: Vital signs indicate the presence of bleeding only after large amounts of blood have been lost, with high morbidity and mortality. The Shock Index (SI) is a hemorrhage indicator with a cut-off point for the risk of bleeding at 0.9. The aim of this study is to assess whether a cut-off of≥0.8 is more sensitive for detecting occult bleeding, providing for early initiation of therapeutic maneuvers. METHODS: SI analytical validation study of severe trauma patients older than 16 years of age. Vital signs were recorded, and scales for predicting bleeding included: SI, Assessment of Blood Consumption score, and Pulse Rate Over Pressure score. The relationship between the SI and 5 markers for bleeding was analyzed: need for massive transfusion, angiographic embolization, surgical bleeding control, death due to hypovolemic shock, and the overall predictor «active bleeding¼ (defined as the presence of at least one of the 4 markers above). RESULTS: Data from 1.402 trauma patients were collected prospectively over a period of 10 years. The mean Injury Severity Score was 20.9 (SD 15.8). The mortality rate was 10%. The mean SI was 0.73 (SD 0.29). «Active bleeding¼ was present in 18.7% of patients. The SI area under the ROC curve for «active bleeding¼ was 0.749. CONCLUSIONS: An SI cut-off point≥0.8 is more sensitive than≥0.9 and allows for earlier initiation of resuscitation maneuvers in patients with occult active bleeding.