Premium
Clonidine poisoning—an emerging problem: Epidemiology, clinical features, management and preventative strategies
Author(s) -
ERICKSON SJ,
DUNCAN A
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1754.1998.t01-1-00217.x
Subject(s) - clonidine , medicine , incidence (geometry) , epidemiology , pediatrics , anesthesia , intensive care medicine , physics , optics
Objective: To ascertain whether the incidence of clonidine poisoning in children has increased given the probable increase in clonidine use for treatment of childhood behavioural disorders. Methods: Cases of clonidine poisoning requiring hospital admission between 1985–95 inclusive were reviewed and demographic data pertinent to each admission were recorded. A literature review was also performed, with particular emphasis on incidence, clinical presentation and management of clonidine poisoning. Results: There were 14 cases of clonidine poisoning during the specified period eight cases presenting in the last 2 years. These eight children or their siblings had been prescribed clonidine for behavioural disorders. The most common signs at presentation were alteration of concious state (71%) and bradycardia (50%). Nine children were given activated charcoal while seven cases underwent gastric lavage or induced emesis. Although six children were admitted to intensive care, length of hospital stay was less than 24 h in all cases and all had a favourable outcome. Conclusion: We concluded that the incidence of clonidine poisoning had increased over the specified period and that, based on our results, this was likely to be due to an increase in clonidine use in childhood behavioural disorders. Based on our data and that from literature review it was evident that there are inconsistencies in the management of clonidine poisoning and that safety measures, namely packaging and education, are inadequate given the increasing profile of clonidine use.