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[Generalized epileptic seizures in an infant due to passive exposure to cocaine]

S Aguilera1, C Salado, I Díaz López

  • 1Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Virgen del Camino, Pamplona, Spain.

Anales Del Sistema Sanitario De Navarra
|January 23, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Passive smoke exposure to cocaine can cause seizures in infants. Urine toxicology screening is recommended for infants experiencing unexplained seizures.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • The differential diagnosis for afebrile seizures in infants is broad.
  • Identifying the cause of seizures is critical for appropriate management.

Observation:

  • A 7-month-old infant experienced two generalized tonic-clonic seizures within 23 hours.
  • Initial evaluations including laboratory tests, cerebral echography, and EEG were normal.
  • Urine toxicology initially tested positive for cocaine, with subsequent negative results.

Findings:

  • The infant's seizures were linked to passive exposure to cocaine smoke.
  • The child had no further seizures and exhibited normal development during a six-month follow-up.

Implications:

  • Passive cocaine inhalation is a potential cause of seizures in infants.
  • Routine urine toxicology screening is advised for infants with unexplained afebrile seizures.
  • Increased awareness of risks associated with passive cocaine exposure is necessary due to rising crack use.
Abstract

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