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J Pediatr Intensive Care 2023; 12(01): 012-017
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1727249
Original Article

Increase in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Hospitalizations Due to Toxic Ingestions during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Jennifer L. van Helmond 
1   Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Delaware, United States
2   Department of Pediatrics, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Pennsylvania, United States
,
Brittany Fitts
1   Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Delaware, United States
,
Jigar C. Chauhan
1   Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Delaware, United States
2   Department of Pediatrics, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Pennsylvania, United States
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Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and related community mitigation measures had a significant psychosocial impact. We suspected that more patients were admitted to our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) for toxic ingestions since the start of the pandemic. We therefore investigated if PICU admissions related to toxic ingestions were higher in 2020 as a result of COVID-19 compared with previous years. We completed a cross-sectional study at a tertiary children's hospital comparing admissions to our PICU between April 2020 and October 2020, during which COVID-19 and community mitigation measures were in place, to those during the same 7-month period in the previous 3 years. Total PICU admissions, admissions for all toxic ingestions (intentional ingestions and accidental ingestions), and demographic and clinical characteristics of patients were compared. Total PICU admissions in 2020 during COVID-19 pandemic months were lower compared with the same months in the preceding 3 years (−16%, p< 0.001), however, admissions for toxic ingestions were higher during COVID-19 (+64%, p< 0.001). When separated by type, intentional (+55%, p = 0.012) and accidental ingestions (+94%, p = 0.021) were higher during COVID-19. COVID-19 with community mitigation measures has led to an increase in PICU admissions for intentional and accidental ingestions, indicating an increase in severity of toxic ingestions in children associated with the pandemic. Mental health of adolescents, and safety of infants and toddlers in their home environment, should be targeted with specific interventions in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords

COVID-19 - pediatric intensive care unit - pandemic - toxic ingestion


Publication History

Received: 10 February 2021

Accepted: 01 March 2021

Article published online:
18 May 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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