Economic burden of pediatric prescription opioid poisonings in the United States

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Among the different drugs involved in pediatric exposures and poisonings, opioids are the most important, given their rise in nonmedical use. Opioid poisonings in children can result in serious symptoms or complications, including respiratory disorders such as apnea, respiratory failure, and respiratory depression; psychi-atric or nervous system disorders such as agitation, seizures, and coma; and cardiac disorders such as tachycardia, bradycardia, and cardiac arrest. Opioid poisonings in children can have delayed onset of symptoms as well as severe and prolonged toxic effects. Many studies have examined the economic burden of opioid poisoning in the general population, but very little is known about the pediatric population. OBJECTIVE:To estimate the economic burden associated with pediatric prescription opioid poisonings. METHODS:This study examined opioid poisonings in pediatric patients, defined as patients aged less than 18 years, for the 2012 base year. Costs were estimated using the 2012 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS), Kids' Inpatient Database (KID), Multiple Cause-of-Death (MCOD) file,

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Rescue Therapy in Pediatric Bupropion Cardiotoxicity

“…Poisonings cause significant pediatric morbidity and mortality and economic burdens in the United States and globally, 1,2 corresponding to an increasing burden of disease 3 and increasing youth suicide. [4][5][6] U.S.…”