Investigation of Clinical Signs of Methadone Poisoning in Children Hospitalized at Shahid Motahari Hospital, Urmia, during the period ۲۰۱۹-

Introduction: Poisoning is one of the common causes of referral to emergency departments. Opioids, especially methadone, are among the causes of unintentional poisoning in children, leading to a high number of emergency visits in pediatric hospitals. This study was conducted to evaluate methadone poisoning, clinical signs in affected children. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a census method on the medical records of ۱۰۷ children hospitalized due to methadone poisoning at Shahid Motahari Educational and Treatment Center, Urmia. Data were collected through a checklist containing demographic information and clinical signs. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version ۲۳ with descriptive statistics and frequency percentages. Results: The mean age of patients was ۵۲ ± ۴۱ months, with ۶۲.۶% in the age range of ۱۳ to ۵۹ months. About ۵۹.۸% of patients were admitted within ۱۲ hours of poisoning, ۵۷% were male, ۸۱.۳% of poisonings were accidental, and ۶۴.۵% had ingested methadone syrup. Clinical signs included miosis in ۷۲.۹%, mydriasis in ۴.۸%, decreased level of consciousness in ۷۸.۵%, seizures in ۲.۸%, respiratory arrest in ۱۰.۳%, bradypnea in ۲۰.۵%, cyanosis and oxygen desaturation in ۲۸.۹%, aspiration in ۴.۷%, nausea and vomiting in ۴۱.۱%. Cardiac signs were normal in ۷۲.۹% of cases, while ۱۹.۶% had tachycardia. Intubation was required in ۸.۴% of patients. Mortality rate was ۰.۹% (one case), and recovery was achieved in ۸۴.۱%. Naloxone injection was administered in ۹۵.۷% of cases. Conclusion: Educating parents on preventing accidental methadone consumption, timely referral to treatment centers upon occurrence of poisoning symptoms, and training on proper methadone storage by addiction treatment centers are effective measures in reducing methadone poisoning incidents

کلیدواژه ها:

Toxicity ، Methadone ، Clinical symptoms ، Children