Adverse effects caused by the use of nasal vasoconstrictor drugs are not uncommon in pediatric practice. Nasal decongestant poisoning is one of the most common causes of hospitalization of preschool children in the toxicology department. The restrictive sanitary and epidemiological measures introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced the incidence of acute respiratory infections, which could have affected both the frequency of using vasoconstrictors and the frequency of adverse events caused by the nasal decongestants usage.
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
To study the impact of restrictive sanitary and epidemiological measures on the proportion of complications due to the nasal vasoconstrictor drugs usage in the structure of toxicological pathology of a multidisciplinary hospital.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
A retrospective data analysis of patients medical records of the toxicology department and annual reports was carried out. The number of hospitalized patients with poisoning by decongestants, the age of patients, the active substance of the drug, the features of the use of the drug, which probably influenced the development of the side effect, were taken into account. The results were compared with similar data obtained in the period before the COVID-19 pandemic.
RESULTS
A clear trend towards a decrease in the absolute number of children with nasal decongestant poisoning was revealed. The greatest risk of poisoning with nasal vasoconstrictor drugs falls on the age group of children from 1 year to 3 years. In more than 75% of cases, complications occurred with the use of naphazoline drugs. In most episodes, the poisoning mechanism was not associated with medical prescriptions, but was a consequence of the decisions of the child’s parents.
CONCLUSION
To reduce the risks of developing adverse events associated with the action of nasal decongestants, it is necessary to strictly follow the regimen for the use of the drug indicated in its instructions, not to exceed a single dose and frequency of use. Also, the use of drugs based on naphazoline should be avoided due to their greatest child toxicity.
