Intoxication grave par médicaments et/ou substances illicites admise en réanimation : spécificités pédiatriques

Severe acute intoxications in children requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission remain rare. The physiopathology of intoxication with eventual differed or delayed symptoms explains the necessity of observation in the ICU (usually < 12 hours). A severe intoxication in pediatric patients is defined as intoxication requiring observation in an ICU due to the potentially letal amount of ingested substance or by the clinical presentation. We develop pediatric particularities of severe intoxication by medications and/or illicit drugs from an epidemiological perspective, definition, toxidromes, treatment of symptoms and specific protocols (techniques, antidotes). We have excluded accidental iatrogenic intoxications. We will not touch on the psychiatric aspect and will discuss two new drugs: methadone and ecstasy.