Citation

Manohari SS, Dayasiri K, Jansz M. Sri Lanka J. Child Health 2021; 50(3): e514.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians)

DOI

10.4038/sljch.v50i3.9738

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Acute poisoning is a common presentation seen in the paediatric emergency setting. Majority of these attendings are non-life threatening and observation alone is adequate. Most are due to accidental poisoning but in the teenage years, deliberate poisoning and experimentation with illicit substances are increasingly seen1,2. Any substance should be considered a potential poison, depending on the dose and duration of exposure.

The initial approach includes pre-hospital care, emergency care and arrangements to be made for definitive care. In the pre-hospital set-up, monitoring and intravenous (IV) access are considered the most important initial steps. In addition, supplemental oxygen, correction of hypoglycaemia, treatment of seizures with benzodiazepines, administration of naloxone and treatment of broad complex tachycardia with sodium bicarbonate should be considered, according to the available facilities and competencies of the emergency medical services (EMS) on a case by case basis. There is limited evidence for clinical efficacy of pre-hospital treatment with activated charcoal3. However, in reality, little is expected from EMS.

Language: en