EMERGENCY CARE FOR PARACETAMOL POISONING

Abstract

Relevance. Medicines designed to help treat diseases, if used incorrectly or in excess of dosage, can cause serious disruptions in the functioning of critical organs and even lead to death. Detecting poisoning and accurately identifying the substance that caused it is often difficult due to a lack of information about what happened. A sudden deterioration in a child’s well-being should always raise suspicion of the possibility of intoxication. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of N-acetylcysteine, an amino acid compound administered orally or intravenously as an antidote as part of a comprehensive emergency treatment for paracetamol intoxication. Material and methods. An analysis of the medical records of 296 children hospitalized in the Samarkand branch of the Republican Scientific Center for Emergency Medical Care with acute intoxication was carried out. Clinical data, medical history, and laboratory blood and urine tests were analyzed: liver enzyme levels (transaminases), bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, prothrombin time, coagulation parameters, bleeding time, and urea and creatinine concentrations. During 2024, 296 patients with poisoning were admitted to the pediatric intensive care and emergency departments of Children's Hospitals No. 1 and No. 2, of which 34.1% (101 children) were affected by drug intoxication; in particular, among children under three years of age, this amounted to 22.9% or 68 cases, mainly with paracetamol poisoning. Conclusions: Thus, in case of paracetamol poisoning, the inclusion of N-acetylcysteine ​​in complex emergency therapy in the first hours of hospitalization prevents the development of a complicated course of the disease. It is recommended to clearly instruct parents on the need to inspect the home first aid kit, as well as to deliver any suspicious packages or pills found near the child when the child’s well-being deteriorates.