• Ilari Kuitunen.
• Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, PL 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland. ilari.kuitunen@uef.fi.
• Ir J Med Sci. 2022 Jun 1; 191 (3): 1081-1083.

BackgroundSocial restrictions set due to COVID-19 decreased pediatric emergency department (ED). The aim is to report epidemiology of intoxicated patients in pediatric ED during the first and second waves of COVID-19.MethodsData for this retrospective hospital discharge register study was gathered from January 2017 to December 2020. Patients aged <18 and intoxicated were included. Incidences are reported per 10,000 children and compared by incidence rate rations (IRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsIncidence of ED visit for intoxicated patient was 65 per 10,000 in 2020 and 54 per 10,000 in 2017-2019 (IRR 1.20 CI 0.87-1.68). Incidence was lower during the lockdown compared to reference years (IRR 0.50 CI 0.17-1.44). Peak monthly incidence (12 per 10000) was recorded after lockdown in July 2020 (IRR 2.45 CI 1.01-5.92).DiscussionBased on these results, the lockdown and social restrictions did not decrease heavy alcohol or drug consumption among adolescents in Finland.© 2021. The Author(s).

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