Adverse drug events leading children to hospital emergency care

Abstract

To determine the incidence of adverse drug events (ADE) that resulted in the need for children’s emergency care, a total of 23,286 pediatric emergency case notes were analyzed. They were selected on the basis of the ICD code indicating a possible ADE. ADEs were found in 13 case notes (0.06 %), predominantly among girls and mainly in the 1 to 5 year age group. About half of the observed events occurred as a result of accidental ingestion, 27.3 % were suicide attempts, and 27.3 % arose due to the discontinuation of treatment. Antiepileptic drugs were those most often involved. Three (23 %) were serious. The results suggest that children have easy access to medications and are involved in the majority of accidental occurrences. Using drugs involves risks, and drawing attention to such risks while prescribing and dispensing them fosters the sharing of responsibility and the empowerment of the users, measures necessary to health promotion.