Ján Kovaľ, Rastislav Havrilla, Juliana Kordovanová, Jozef Baláž
In the recent years, the number of children and adolescents admitted into the intensive care unit for serious alcohol intoxication has been increasing. The paper presents the study on the children and youth hospitalized for alcohol intoxication in the region of Prešov between 2003 and September 2007. Between January 2003 and late September 2007, altogether 129 children and young adults at the age of 2 - 18 years were admitted into the intensive care unit of the Pediatric Dept., J. A. Reiman Hospital in Prešov due to acute alcohol intoxication. The average age was 15.5 years (2 - 18 years), 48 % of boys and 52 % of girls. During the period mentioned above, the number of the intoxicated significantly increased; in 2006 the number was three times higher than in 2003; in case of girls, the number increased six times. At the beginning boys prevailed slightly but in 2006 girls started to prevail. Considering the ethnic group, the percentage of the intoxicated non-Romany children was 91 %, the percentage of the intoxicated Romany children was 9 %. Average blood alcohol concentration was 2.2 ‰; 2.3 ‰ in girls, 2.1 ‰ in boys. Fifty three children (41.1 %) were admitted for a medium level of drunkenness (1.5 - 2.0 ‰), fifty eight children (45 %) for a serious medium level of drunkenness (2.0 - 3.0 ‰). Eleven children (8.5 %), 5 girls and 6 boys, were admitted for the most serious level of drunkenness (over 3 ‰). The Department: upon admission, the average GCS value was 12 points (5 - 14); regaining full consciousness, in average, took 6.5 hours (5 - 16). Upon admission, the average body temperature was 35.5 °C (34.0 - 37 °C). Only two patients suffered from hypoglycemia; in the others, normoglycemia and/or increase was observed. Ten patients were diagnosed to be intoxicated by ethanol, and by the mixture of medicaments, marihuana, and Datura (Jimson weed). The average hospitalization lasted 2.8 days. In the observed group, no patient died. At present, more and more children and adolescents are being admitted for alcohol intoxication. It is from both social and medical points of view a critical issue that necessitates attention.