Acute opioid overdose in pediatric patients

Abstract Recent increases in pediatric and adolescent opioid fatalities mandate an urgent need for early consideration of possible opioid exposure and specific diagnostic and management strategies and interventions tailored to these unique populations. In contrast to adults, pediatric methods of exp...

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Main Authors: Stephen Sandelich, Gwen Hooley, George Hsu, Emily Rose, Tim Ruttan, Evan S. Schwarz, Erin Simon, Carmen Sulton, Jessica Wall, Ann M Dietrich
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-04-01
Series:Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.13134
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author Stephen Sandelich
Gwen Hooley
George Hsu
Emily Rose
Tim Ruttan
Evan S. Schwarz
Erin Simon
Carmen Sulton
Jessica Wall
Ann M Dietrich
author_facet Stephen Sandelich
Gwen Hooley
George Hsu
Emily Rose
Tim Ruttan
Evan S. Schwarz
Erin Simon
Carmen Sulton
Jessica Wall
Ann M Dietrich
author_sort Stephen Sandelich
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Recent increases in pediatric and adolescent opioid fatalities mandate an urgent need for early consideration of possible opioid exposure and specific diagnostic and management strategies and interventions tailored to these unique populations. In contrast to adults, pediatric methods of exposure include accidental ingestions, prescription misuse, and household exposure. Early recognition, appropriate diagnostic evaluation, along with specialized treatment for opioid toxicity in this demographic are discussed. A key focus is on Naloxone, an essential medication for opioid intoxication, addressing its unique challenges in pediatric use. Unique pediatric considerations include recognition of accidental ingestions in our youngest population, critical social aspects including home safety and intentional exposure, and harm reduction strategies, mainly through Naloxone distribution and education on safe medication practices. It calls for a multifaceted approach, including creating pediatric‐specific guidelines, to combat the opioid crisis among children and to work to lower morbidity and mortality from opioid overdoses.
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series Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open
spelling doaj-art-eb1ce79efbf84820b8bb08cd8e0a0aba2025-08-20T03:21:16ZengElsevierJournal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open2688-11522024-04-0152n/an/a10.1002/emp2.13134Acute opioid overdose in pediatric patientsStephen Sandelich0Gwen Hooley1George Hsu2Emily Rose3Tim Ruttan4Evan S. Schwarz5Erin Simon6Carmen Sulton7Jessica Wall8Ann M Dietrich9Department of Emergency Medicine Penn State College of Medicine Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Hershey Pennsylvania USADepartment of Emergency Medicine Children's Hospital of Los Angeles Los Angeles California USADepartment of Emergency Medicine Augusta University‐Medical College of Georgia Augusta Georgia USADepartment of Emergency Medicine Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California Los Angeles General Medical Center Los Angeles California USADepartment of Pediatrics Dell Medical School The University of Texas at Austin US Acute Care Solutions Canton Ohio USADivision of Medical Toxicology Department of Emergency Medicine University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles California USADepartment of Emergency Medicine Cleveland Clinic Akron Ohio USADepartments of Pediatrics and Emergency MedicineEmory University School of MedicineChildren's Healthcare of Atlanta, EglestonAtlanta Georgia USADepartments of Pediatrics and Emergency MedicineSeattle Children's HospitalHarborview Medical CenterSeattle Washington USADepartment of Emergency Medicine Prisma Health Greenville South Carolina USAAbstract Recent increases in pediatric and adolescent opioid fatalities mandate an urgent need for early consideration of possible opioid exposure and specific diagnostic and management strategies and interventions tailored to these unique populations. In contrast to adults, pediatric methods of exposure include accidental ingestions, prescription misuse, and household exposure. Early recognition, appropriate diagnostic evaluation, along with specialized treatment for opioid toxicity in this demographic are discussed. A key focus is on Naloxone, an essential medication for opioid intoxication, addressing its unique challenges in pediatric use. Unique pediatric considerations include recognition of accidental ingestions in our youngest population, critical social aspects including home safety and intentional exposure, and harm reduction strategies, mainly through Naloxone distribution and education on safe medication practices. It calls for a multifaceted approach, including creating pediatric‐specific guidelines, to combat the opioid crisis among children and to work to lower morbidity and mortality from opioid overdoses.https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.13134naloxoneopiate overdoseopioid epidemicopioid‐related disorderssubstance‐related disorders
spellingShingle Stephen Sandelich
Gwen Hooley
George Hsu
Emily Rose
Tim Ruttan
Evan S. Schwarz
Erin Simon
Carmen Sulton
Jessica Wall
Ann M Dietrich
Acute opioid overdose in pediatric patients
Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open
naloxone
opiate overdose
opioid epidemic
opioid‐related disorders
substance‐related disorders
title Acute opioid overdose in pediatric patients
title_full Acute opioid overdose in pediatric patients
title_fullStr Acute opioid overdose in pediatric patients
title_full_unstemmed Acute opioid overdose in pediatric patients
title_short Acute opioid overdose in pediatric patients
title_sort acute opioid overdose in pediatric patients
topic naloxone
opiate overdose
opioid epidemic
opioid‐related disorders
substance‐related disorders
url https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.13134
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