Adverse drugs reactions to paracetamol and ibuprofen in children: a 5-year report from a pediatric poison control center in Italy

Bibliographic Details
Title: Adverse drugs reactions to paracetamol and ibuprofen in children: a 5-year report from a pediatric poison control center in Italy
Authors: Marco Marano, Marco Roversi, Flavia Severini, Claudia Memoli, Antonio Musolino, Mara Pisani, Corrado Cecchetti, Alberto Villani
Source: Italian Journal of Pediatrics, Vol 49, Iss 1, Pp 1-8 (2023)
Publisher Information: BMC, 2023.
Publication Year: 2023
Collection: LCC:Pediatrics
Subject Terms: Pediatric poisoning, Antipyretics, Analgesics, Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, Paracetamol, Acetaminophen, Pediatrics, RJ1-570
More Details: Abstract Background This study aimed to analyze all the patients who contacted the hospital’s pediatric poison control center (PPCC) for exposure to ibuprofen and acetaminophen, in order to assess the incidence of any adverse reactions. Methods We retrospectively reported the clinical data of children who accessed the PPCC of the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, from January 1, 2018 to September 30, 2022 due to wrong, accidental or intentional intake of inappropriate doses of acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen. In addition, we compared patients according to the intake of one of the two drugs and reported the trimestral distribution of cases during the study period. Results A total of 351 patients accessed the PPCC during the study period. The median age was 3.0 years. Most patients were females (57.8%). The most common reason for inappropriate oral intake of paracetamol or ibuprofen was a wrong use or an accidental intake (78.6%), with a fifth of patients taking the drug with suicidal intent (21.1%). According to the PPCC evaluation, most patients were not intoxicated (70.4%). Hospitalization was required for 30.5% of patients. Adverse reactions were reported in 10.5% of cases, with a similar incidence in patients who took paracetamol or ibuprofen. Nausea and vomiting were the most commonly reported adverse reactions. A higher frequency of moderate intoxication was found in patients who took paracetamol compared to ibuprofen (p = 0.001). The likelihood of intoxication was also higher in the paracetamol cohort. A spike of cases was registered at the end of 2021. Conclusions We analyze exposures to the two most commonly used pediatric molecules, paracetamol and ibuprofen, to assess the frequency of adverse reactions. We demonstrated that these relatively “safe” drugs may be associated with intoxications and adverse reactions when inappropriately administered.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1824-7288
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/1824-7288
DOI: 10.1186/s13052-023-01427-6
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/30c85fe11c80470bbb6b1b094b512ae2
Accession Number: edsdoj.30c85fe11c80470bbb6b1b094b512ae2
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
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More Details
ISSN:18247288
DOI:10.1186/s13052-023-01427-6
Published in:Italian Journal of Pediatrics
Language:English