The effects of COVID-19 on intoxications in the pediatric emergency room

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe the impact of the pandemic on poisonings in children under 18 years of age who presented to a pediatric tertiary emergency department in Canada. Methodology: We used surveillance data from the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP) to identify children who presented to the Hospital for Sick Children for intoxication during 2 time periods: pre-pandemic (March 11 to December 31, 2018, and 2019) and during the pandemic (March 11 to December 31, 2020). The primary endpoints were the change from total ED visits in the proportion of total intoxications, accidental intoxications, recreational drug use, and intentional self-harm. We also examined the variation between before and during the pandemic in the proportion of intoxications by age, sex, type of drug, and admission requirements. Results: The proportion to total ED visits significantly increased for total intoxication (122.5%), accidental intoxication (127.8%), recreational drug use (160%), and intentional intoxication (self-harm; 104.2%). The proportion of all intoxication cases also increased significantly during the pandemic for cannabis (44.3%), vaping (134.6%), other recreational drugs (54.5%), multiple drug use (29.3%), and intoxication admissions (44.3%).Conclusion: Despite an overall decrease in ED visits during the pandemic, there was a significant increase from pre-pandemic levels in presentations for poisoning to our ED. Our results will help to better guide care delivery and public health interventions for pediatric poisonings.