Journal of Child and Adolescent Behavior
Open Access

Abstract

Aim: Alcohol intoxication in children and adolescents is a severe health concern in current pediatrics. In this longitudinal study, we monitored intake and treatment of 5,893 adolescents in Departments of Pediatrics in Dutch hospitals over the years 2007 to 2016. Methods: From 2007 till 2016 we collected data on all adolescents (inclusion criteria: aged younger than 18 and with a positive BAC), treated by a pediatrician in all Dutch hospitals. Within the dutch pediatric surveillance system (NSCK), all pediatricians report adolescents and fill in a questionnaire, making use of a patient interview. Results: In total 5,893 adolescents were treated, mainly (4,678; 88%) related to severe alcohol intoxication; mean age was 15.4 years, and 52% were boys. BAC level increased during this period (1.82 in 2007 and 2.01 in 2016), and reduced consciousness lasted from 2.24 hours in 2007 till 3.12 hours in 2016). 11.4% Of the adolescents with alcohol intoxication had simultaneous drug usage. The attitude of the parents changed during the years: in 2011 (first year of registration) 68% of the parents gave permission to their child to drink alcohol, in 2016 this decreased to only 19%. Conclusions: Alcohol intoxication treatment remains an issue of importance. This dataset enables us to conduct longitudinal and interesting analyses on alcohol intoxication characteristics in youngsters, medical treatment, and events leading up to the intoxication.

Biography

Nicolaas van der Lely was born on August 13th, 1963 in Vlaardingen (Netherlands). From 1981 to 1988 he studied medicine at the Erasmus Medical Centre of Rotterdam (EMCR). During this period he also worked in Geneva, Paris and in Baltimore (USA). He had his clinical training in paediatrics in Maastricht (UMCM) and Amsterdam (AMC-EKZ). From 1995 to 1997 he was fellow in Pediatric Intensive Care in AMC EKZ. In 2002 he completed his thesis 'Emergency Care for Critically ill Children‘. Since 1997 he is working as a paediatrician at the Reinier de Graaf Hospital (RdGG) in Delft as chief of residents. Since 2000 he did a lot of research on alcohol and youth for which he is well known in the Netherlands. In December 2006 he opened a multidisciplinary alcohol outpatient clinic. Because of this he is well known and asked for by local, regional and national policy makers.