Alcohol intoxication in children and adolescents requiring emergency hospital admission in 20 major children's hospitals in Germany between 2000–2002

Objective: Drug and alcohol (C2H5OH) abuse is an increasing problem in children and adolescents throughout the world. However, precise epidemiological data on acute C2H5OH intoxication in children and adolescents requiring hospital admission are rare (1, 2). Methods: An ex-post analysis was performed to assess the number of children and adolescents (age 10–17 years) with acute C2H5OH intoxications who required in-patient treatment (≥24 hours) in 20 major children hospitals in Germany between 2000 and 2002. The diagnosis of C2H5OH intoxications was made on the basis of the discharge summary of the participating h…