Descriptive epidemiology of infant ingestion calls to a regional poison control center. 2005

Teresa J Coco, and William D King, and Ann P Slattery
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Children's Health System, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA. teoco@peds.uab.edu

OBJECTIVE This study was designed to describe the epidemiology of ingestions in infants 6 months of age or younger. METHODS A retrospective chart review from a convenience sample of poison center cases in infants younger than 6 months of age from December 28, 2002, to December 28, 2003, was reviewed. RESULTS A total of 358 cases were reviewed. Incorrectly measured dose, repeated dosing by different caregivers, incorrect dosing interval, and incorrect route accounted for 41% [95% CI, (36%, 46%)] of caregiver dosing misadventures. Ten cases (3%) were due to pharmacy error, and the wrong medication was given in 32 (9%) cases. The total therapeutic misadventure proportion was 53%. Eight percent were 10-fold dosing errors. Thirty-nine (11%) infants were evaluated in an emergency department and 9 (3%) infants were admitted to a health care facility. CONCLUSIONS Therapeutic misadventures caused by dosing errors in infants younger than 6 months of age were prevalent. Most errors occurred with inaccurate measurement of the medication, repeated dosing by caregivers, incorrect dosing interval, and incorrect route. Healthcare providers could increase prevention of therapeutic misadventures by educating caregivers on proper administration of medications and by demonstrating the use of appropriate measuring devices.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D007231 Infant, Newborn An infant during the first 28 days after birth. Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D008508 Medication Errors Errors in prescribing, dispensing, or administering medication with the result that the patient fails to receive the correct drug or the indicated proper drug dosage. Drug Use Error,Errors, Medication,High-Alert Drug Error,High-Alert Medication Error,LASA Medication Errors,Look-Alike Drug Name Errors,Look-Alike Sound-Alike Drug Errors,Look-Alike Sound-Alike Drug Substitution Errors,Look-Alike Sound-Alike Medication Errors,Lookalike Drug Name Errors,Lookalike Soundalike Drug Errors,Lookalike Soundalike Drug Substitution Errors,Lookalike Soundalike Medication Errors,Drug Error, High-Alert,Drug Use Errors,Error, Drug Use,Error, LASA Medication,Error, Medication,High Alert Drug Error,High Alert Medication Error,High-Alert Drug Errors,High-Alert Medication Errors,LASA Medication Error,Look Alike Drug Name Errors,Look Alike Sound Alike Drug Errors,Look Alike Sound Alike Drug Substitution Errors,Look Alike Sound Alike Medication Errors,Medication Error,Medication Error, High-Alert,Medication Error, LASA,Medication Errors, High-Alert,Medication Errors, LASA
D011039 Poison Control Centers Facilities which provide information concerning poisons and treatment of poisoning in emergencies. Centers, Poison Control,Center, Poison Control,Control Centers, Poison,Poison Control Center
D011041 Poisoning A condition or physical state produced by the ingestion, injection, inhalation of or exposure to a deleterious agent. Poisonings
D006266 Health Education Education that increases the awareness and favorably influences the attitudes and knowledge relating to the improvement of health on a personal or community basis. Community Health Education,Education, Health,Education, Community Health,Health Education, Community
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000407 Alabama A state in the southeastern region of the United States. The capital is Montgomery.
D012189 Retrospective Studies Studies used to test etiologic hypotheses in which inferences about an exposure to putative causal factors are derived from data relating to characteristics of persons under study or to events or experiences in their past. The essential feature is that some of the persons under study have the disease or outcome of interest and their characteristics are compared with those of unaffected persons. Retrospective Study,Studies, Retrospective,Study, Retrospective
D017028 Caregivers Persons who provide care to those who need supervision or assistance in illness or disability. They may provide the care in the home, in a hospital, or in an institution. Although caregivers include trained medical, nursing, and other health personnel, the concept also refers to parents, spouses, or other family members, friends, members of the clergy, teachers, social workers, fellow patients. Family Caregivers,Informal Caregivers,Spouse Caregivers,Care Givers,Carers,Care Giver,Caregiver,Caregiver, Family,Caregiver, Informal,Caregiver, Spouse,Caregivers, Family,Caregivers, Informal,Caregivers, Spouse,Carer,Family Caregiver,Informal Caregiver,Spouse Caregiver

Related Publications

Teresa J Coco, and William D King, and Ann P Slattery
January 2015, Journal of family medicine and primary care,
Teresa J Coco, and William D King, and Ann P Slattery
August 2010, The western journal of emergency medicine,
Teresa J Coco, and William D King, and Ann P Slattery
June 2016, Southern medical journal,
Teresa J Coco, and William D King, and Ann P Slattery
February 1999, Veterinary and human toxicology,
Teresa J Coco, and William D King, and Ann P Slattery
August 1988, Annals of emergency medicine,
Teresa J Coco, and William D King, and Ann P Slattery
February 1991, Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien,
Teresa J Coco, and William D King, and Ann P Slattery
January 1978, Clinical toxicology,
Teresa J Coco, and William D King, and Ann P Slattery
August 1995, Veterinary and human toxicology,
Teresa J Coco, and William D King, and Ann P Slattery
March 1992, The Western journal of medicine,
Teresa J Coco, and William D King, and Ann P Slattery
June 2016, Southern medical journal,
Copied contents to your clipboard!