Abstract

Background: The drug intoxication is increasingly a serious problem in pediatrics across the world due to their frequency and management difficulties. In Morocco, the number of studies concerning this subject is few which were made to this day at only some hospitals.
Objective: The aim of this study is to review the prevalence, severity, the different etiologies, the clinical, and therapeutic aspects, also the possible preventive ways of these underestimated poisonings in Morocco.
Materials and Methods: It is a retrospective study using 216 cases of drug intoxication who came to the pediatric ward II of the University Hospital of Casablanca.
Results: All the age groups under 15 years old were hit with two frequency peaks at 3 years and 15 years. In most cases, it was an accidental poisoning, though some suicidal ingestions were also noted, especially in teenagers. In over half of cases, the causal drug was neurotropic (benzodiazepines and antipsychotics). The clinic was dominated by neurological signs: Consciousness disorder, behavioral disorders, or seizures. Treatment varies depending on the delay between the incident and the case management and was limited to symptomatic treatment or detoxification measures were required: Spillway treatment or an antidote. Poison Control Center was consulted in all cases.Conclusion: Accidental drug intoxication in children is a public health issue. Legislation and means of prevention must be determined and clarified to confront this problem. Studies on this issue would be appreciated to delimit the real epidemiological and clinical profile of these intoxications.