Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 20, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Oxycodone intoxication in an infant: accidental or intentional exposure?

Barry Levine1, Karla A Moore, Patricia Aronica-Pollak

  • 1Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of Maryland, 111 Penn St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.

Journal of Forensic Sciences
|December 1, 2004
PubMed

Insights

A 10-month-old infant died from oxycodone intoxication. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, citing concerns about drug exposure through breast milk.

Area of Science:

  • Forensic Toxicology
  • Pediatric Autopsy
  • Clinical Chemistry

Background:

  • Infant mortality presents diagnostic challenges.
  • Accidental or intentional drug exposure in infants requires thorough toxicological investigation.

Observation:

  • A 10-month-old male infant experienced cardiac arrest and expired.
  • Autopsy revealed significant oxycodone concentrations in postmortem blood (0.6 mg/L) and liver (1.6 mg/kg).

Findings:

  • Oxycodone was identified and quantified using gas chromatography-nitrogen-phosphorus detection and confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
  • The medical examiner determined the cause of death to be oxycodone intoxication.
  • The manner of death was classified as homicide.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the critical need to assess potential drug exposure routes in infant deaths.
  • The findings raise serious concerns regarding the safety of oxycodone exposure in infants, particularly via breast milk.
  • Forensic toxicology plays a crucial role in determining cause and manner of death in pediatric cases involving potential substance abuse.

Related Concept Videos

Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios01:26

Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios

Pharmaceutical poisoning can occur through various channels, impacting an estimated 2 million hospitalized patients in the U.S. annually with serious adverse drug responses. These scenarios encompass both therapeutic uses, such as drug toxicity, where even standard dosages can lead to severe central nervous system depression, and non-therapeutic exposures, including accidental ingestion by children, and environmental and occupational exposures.Unintentional poisonings often involve exploratory...
Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Treatment Strategies01:26

Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Treatment Strategies

Treatment strategies for poisoning are a critical aspect of emergency medicine, focusing on preventing the absorption of toxins and enhancing their elimination. When a poisoning incident occurs, the first response is to halt exposure and decontaminate the patient, particularly through gastrointestinal (GI) methods if the poison was ingested.Gastrointestinal Decontamination Techniques:Activated charcoal is the cornerstone of GI decontamination. It works through adsorption, binding the toxin to...
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
Prevention of Further Absorption of Poison01:14

Prevention of Further Absorption of Poison

In cases of acute poisoning, the primary objective is to prevent further absorption of the toxic substance into the body. Immediate interventions using various decontamination techniques targeting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract can achieve this. Decontamination is crucial to prevent poison from entering the systemic circulation, which involves washing affected areas with water and mild soap and removing contaminated clothing. Once external decontamination is done, attention must be turned to...
Toxidromes: Clinical Features01:30

Toxidromes: Clinical Features

Toxidromes are specific patterns of symptoms resulting from toxic substance exposure. They help in the identification and treatment of poisoning. The symptoms of each toxidrome group indicate poisoning by a certain class of chemicals or drugs.1. Sympathomimetic: Stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. Symptoms include agitation, increased heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), respiratory rate (RR), temperature, and pupil size. Drugs like cocaine and amphetamines, along with tremors and...
Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners01:20

Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners

Opioids are a class of drugs that mimic endogenous opioid peptides and act on opioid receptors, and help in pain relief. These compounds are classified as natural, synthetic, or semi-synthetic. Natural opioids, like morphine, codeine, and thebaine, are derived from the opium poppy plant (Papaver somniferum or Papaver album) and are termed opiates. Synthetic opioids are artificial, while semi-synthetic opioids combine natural and synthetic compounds. Morphine, a prototypical opioid, possesses a...