Resumo

AIRES, Sofia et al. Adolescent alcoholism: the reality of a paediatric unit. Nascer e Crescer [online]. 2014, vol.23, n.1, pp.08-11. ISSN 0872-0754.

Introduction: Alcohol is the leading substance abuse among adolescents, and is associated with risk behaviours, school and family problems and dependency. Objectives: To characterize the profile and pattern of alcohol consumption in the adolescents admitted for alcohol in- toxication in the paediatric emergency department in Tondela- Viseu Hospital Center, Viseu. Methods: Retrospective descriptive study of the admissions of adolescents in the emergency paediatric department, with the diagnosis of alcohol intoxication during a five years’ period (January 2006 - December 2010). Results: Seventy-four teenagers (aged 11 to 17 years/ mean age: 15  years)  were  admitted  with  the  diagnosis of acute alcohol intoxication, 77% male. The main context of alcohol abuse was with friends, at parties, and mostly distilled spirits drinks. On admission the average Glasgow Scale score was 12 (inferior to eight in 7%). The average blood alcohol level at admission was 1.78 g/l, with a maximum of 3.47 g/l. Consumption of other drugs was found in 10% of cases. The more frequent co-morbidities were abrasion, lesions and minor head injuries; only one case of supra-orbital fracture. Only seven cases required hospitalization over 24hours. Discussion and conclusions: Alcohol abuse in adoles- cents admitted to our service was experimental and in group. Major concerns are the high rates of alcohol level and the exposure to risk, including accidents. There weren’t high rates of of use of other drugs.

Palavras-chave : Adolescence; alcohol; risk behaviours; substance abuse.

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