Background and Importance Drug Intoxications in children, by its social-economic implications, represent a major problem of Public Health. They constitute the main cause of emergency admissions and also one of the principal causes of death in children and adolescents.

Aim and Objectives The aim of this study is to evaluate the pharmaco-economic impact of drug intoxications registred in the paediatric emergency department.

Material and Methods This is a study spread over a period of 12 months from January 1, to December 31, 2021, in the paediatric emergency department. It is based on the analysis of costs to manage all drug intoxications recorded in children for one day of hospitalisation which include the cost of:drugs and antidotes administered, laboratory and radiological analysis, hospitalisation fees.

The reference of the identify costs is given by the billing department of our hospital.

Results During this period 69 cases of drug intoxications were admitted. According to ATCCS classification, the class N (Nervous System) was the most common class involved in drug intoxications (50%) followed by Musculo-Skeletal System (15%) then Genito-Urinary System and Sex Hormones (11%), Respiratory System (8%) and 16% for other classes. To manage these drug intoxications, a symptomatic treatment and antidotes administration is registred in 32.5% of cases (500 €), in 35.5% of cases laboratory and radiology analysis were done (1400 €).The distribution of the costs for one day of hospitalisation related to each intervention and for all recorded drug intoxications is summarised in the table below:

On average, intoxicated children stay in the hospital for at least 48 hours under medical supervision, the total cost of treatment for drug intoxication becomes 6000 € and it can increase depending on the severity of intoxication.

Conclusion and Relevance In our study we have included only the drug intoxications and we have found that their management represents a considerable pharmaco-economic impact also the research has allowed us to conclude that half of the drugs used by children belong to the class of the nervous system which constitutes a significant danger.

Conflict of Interest No conflict of interest