New data shows that the number of children suffering a seizure after swallowing medications or illegal substances has doubled between 2009 and 2023 in the US. The findings were presented today (Wednesday) at the European Emergency Medicine Congress. The most common substances involved in these poisonings include over-the-counter antihistamines, prescription antidepressants and painkillers, and illegal synthetic cannabinoids.
Seizure is one of the most severe symptoms a poisoned patient can experience, and children are particularly vulnerable. Depending on variables such as where a seizure happens, how long it continues and the pre-existing health of the child, seizures can lead to long-term damage or even death." Dr.
Conner McDonald, University of Virginia School of Medicine Working with Professor Christopher Holstege, Chief of the Division of Medical Toxicology at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, and colleagues, Dr Farah gathered data from the US National Poison Data System on seizures in children and teenagers (under the age of 20 years) that resulted from exposure to any single substance between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2023. The National Poison Data System brings together information from the 55 poison centers across the US. These centers are consulted in the most serious cases of poisoning, including poisoning in children that results in seizure.
The researchers analyzed the data according to the children's ages and the substance they had consumed. Ov.