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Nonketotic hyperglycemic coma in toddlers after unintentional methadone ingestion

Sinan Tiras1, Vincent Haas, Laurent Chevret

  • 1Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Bicetre Hospital, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.

Annals of Emergency Medicine
|September 26, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Methadone overdoses are rising, even in children. Unintentional methadone overdose in toddlers can cause central nervous system depression and severe hyperglycemia, a symptom needing more recognition.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Toxicology
  • Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

  • Methadone overdose incidence is rising, particularly with increased opiate substitution therapy.
  • Unintentional methadone intoxication in children, though rare, is increasingly recognized.

Observation:

  • This report details three cases of unintentional methadone overdose in toddlers.
  • Initial symptoms included central nervous system depression and severe nonketotic hyperglycemia.

Findings:

  • Severe nonketotic hyperglycemia is an underrecognized symptom of opiate intoxication in young children.
  • The study explores potential pathophysiologic mechanisms linking methadone overdose to hyperglycemia.

Implications:

  • Highlights the need for increased awareness of methadone toxicity symptoms in pediatric populations.
  • Informs clinical practice regarding the diagnosis and management of unintentional pediatric methadone overdose.

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